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AT  SUNWICH   PORT 


AT  SUNWICH  PORT 


BY 
W.    W.   JACOBS 


McKINLAY,  STONE  &  MACKENZIE 
NEW  YORK 


Copyright,  1901,  1902,  by 
W.  W.  JACOBS 


Copyright,  1902,  by 
CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 


AS  rights  reserved 


PubEshed,  May,  igoa 


stack 

Annex 

AT   SUNWICH    PORT 


CHAPTER   I 

THE  ancient  port  of  Sunwich  was  basking  in 
the  sunshine  of  a  July  afternoon.  A  rattle 
of  cranes  and  winches  sounded  from  the 
shipping  in  the  harbour,  but  the  town  itself  was  half 
asleep.  Somnolent  shopkeepers  in  dim  back  par- 
lours coyly  veiled  their  faces  in  red  handkerchiefs 
from  the  too  ardent  flies,  while  small  boys  left  in 
charge  noticed  listlessly  the  slow  passing  of  time  as 
recorded  by  the  church  clock. 

It  is  a  fine  church,  and  Sunwich  is  proud  of  it. 
The  tall  grey  tower  is  a  landmark  at  sea,  but  from 
the  narrow  streets  of  the  little  town  itself  it  has  a 
disquieting  appearance  of  rising  suddenly  above  the 
roofs  huddled  beneath  it  for  the  purpose  of  display- 
ing a  black-faced  clock  with  gilt  numerals  whose 
mellow  chimes  have  recorded  the  passing  hours  for 
many  generations  of  Sunwich  men. 

Regardless  of  the  heat,  which  indeed  was  mild 
compared  with  that  which  raged  in  his  own  bosom. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Captain  Nugent,  fresh  from  the  inquiry  of  the  col- 
lision of  his  ship  Conqueror  with  the  German  barque 
Hans  Miillery  strode  rapidly  up  the  High  Street  in 
the  direction  of  home.  An  honest  seafaring  smell, 
compounded  of  tar,  rope,  and  fish,  known  to  the 
educated  of  Sunwich  as  ozone,  set  his  thoughts  upon 
the  sea.  He  longed  to  be  aboard  ship  again,  with 
the  Court  of  Inquiry  to  form  part  of  his  crew.  In 
all  his  fifty  years  of  life  he  had  never  met  such  a 
collection  of  fools.  His  hard  blue  eyes  blazed  as 
he  thought  of  them,  and  the  mouth  hidden  by  his 
well-kept  beard  was  set  with  anger. 

Mr.  Samson  Wilks,  his  steward,  who  had  been 
with  him  to  London  to  give  evidence,  had  had  a 
time  upon  which  he  looked  back  in  later  years  with 
much  satisfaction  at  his  powers  of  endurance.  He 
was  with  the  captain,  and  yet  not  with  him.  When 
they  got  out  of  the  train  at  Sunwich  he  hesitated  as 
to  whether  he  should  follow  the  captain  or  leave 
him.  His  excuse  for  following  was  the  bag,  his 
reason  for  leaving  the  volcanic  condition  of  its  own- 
er's temper,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  he  appeared 
to  be  sublimely  ignorant  that  the  most  devoted 
steward  in  the  world  was  tagging  faithfully  along  a 
yard  or  two  in  the  rear. 

The  few  passers-by  glanced  at  the  couple  with 
interest.  Mr.  Wilks  had  what  is  called  an  expres- 
sive face,  and  he  had  worked  his  sandy  eyebrows. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

his  weak  blue  eyes,  and  large,  tremulous  mouth 
into  such  an  expression  of  surprise  at  the  finding 
of  the  Court,  that  he  had  all  the  appearance  of  a 
beholder  of  visions.  He  changed  the  bag  to  his 
other  hand  as  they  left  the  town  behind  them,  and 
regarded  with  gratitude  the  approaching  end  of  his 
labours. 

At  the  garden-gate  of  a  fair-sized  house  some  half- 
mile  along  the  road  the  captain  stopped,  and  after 
an  impatient  fumbling  at  the  latch  strode  up  the 
path,  followed  by  Mr.  Wilks,  and  knocked  at  the 
door.  As  he  paused  on  the  step  he  half  turned, 
and  for  the  first  time  noticed  the  facial  expression  of 
his  faithful  follower. 

"What  the  dickens  are  you  looking  like  that 
for  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  I've  been  surprised,  sir,"  conceded  Mr.  Wilks; 
"  surprised  and  astonished." 

Wrath  blazed  again  in  the  captain's  eyes  and  set 
lines  in  his  forehead.  He  was  being  pitied — by  a 
steward  ! 

"  You've  been  drinking,"  he  said,  crisply  ;  "  put 
that  bag  down."  ' 

"  Arsking  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  the  steward, 
twisting  his  unusually  dry  lips  into  a  smile,  "  but 
I've  'ad  no  opportunity,  sir — I've  been  follerin' 
you  all  day,  sir." 

A  servant  opened  the  door.    "  You've  been  soak- 

3 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ing  in  it  for  a  month,'*  declared  the  captain  as  he 
entered  the  hall.  "  Why  the  blazes  don't  you  bring 
that  bag  in  ?  Are  you  so  drunk  you  don't  know 
what  you  are  doing  ?  " 

Mr.  Wilks  picked  the  bag  up  and  followed  hum- 
bly into  the  house.  Then  he  lost  his  head  alto- 
gether, and  gave  some  colour  to  his  superior  officer's 
charges  by  first  cannoning  into  the  servant  and  then 
wedging  the  captain  firmly  in  the  doorway  of  the 
sitting-room  with  the  bag. 

"  Steward  !  "  rasped  the  captain. 

"  Yessir,"  said  the  unhappy  Mr.  Wilks. 

"  Go  and  sit  down  in  the  kitchen,  and  don't  leave 
this  house  till  you're  sober." 

Mr.  Wilks  disappeared.  He  was  not  in  his  first 
lustre,  but  he  was  an  ardent  admirer  of  the  sex,  and 
in  an  absent-minded  way  he  passed  his  arm  round 
the  handmaiden's  waist,  and  sustained  a  buffet  which 
made  his  head  ring. 

"  A  man  o'  your  age,  and  drunk,  too,"  explained 
the  damsel. 

Mr.  Wilks  denied  both  charges.  It  appeared  that 
he  was  much  younger  than  he  looked,  while,  as  for 
drink,  he  had  forgotten  the  taste  of  it.  A  question 
as  to  the  reception  Ann  would  have  accorded  a  boy- 
ish teetotaler  remained  unanswered. 

In  the  sitting-room  Mrs.  Kingdom,  the  captain's 
widowed  sister,  put  down  her  crochet-work  as  her 

4 


At  Sunwich  Port 

brother  entered,  and  turned  to  him  expectantly. 
There  was  an  expression  of  loving  sympathy  on  her 
mild  and  rather  foolish  face,  and  the  captain  stiffened 
at  once. 

"  I  was  in  the  wrong,"  he  said,  harshly,  as  he 
dropped  into  a  chair ;  "  my  certificate  has  been  sus- 
pended for  six  months,  and  my  first  officer  has  been 
commended." 

"  Suspended  ?  "  gasped  Mrs.  Kingdom,  pushing 
back  the  white  streamer  to  the  cap  which  she  wore 
in  memory  of  the  late  Mr.  Kingdom,  and  sitting 
upright.     "  You  ?  " 

"  I  think  that's  what  I  said,"  replied  her  brother. 

Mrs.  Kingdom  gazed  at  him  mournfully,  and, 
putting  her  hand  behind  her,  began  a  wriggling 
search  in  her  pocket  for  a  handkerchief,  with  the 
idea  of  paying  a  wholesome  tribute  of  tears.  She 
was  a  past-master  in  the  art  of  grief,  and,  pending 
its  extraction,  a  docile  tear  hung  on  her  eyelid  and 
waited.  The  captain  eyed  her  preparations  with 
silent  anger. 

"  I  am  not  surprised,"  said  Mrs.  Kingdom, 
dabbing  her  eyes ;  "  I  expected  it  somehow.  I 
seemed  to  have  a  warning  of  it.  Something  seemed 
to  tell  me;  I  couldn't  explain,  but  I  seemed  to 
know." 

She  sniffed  gently,  and,  wiping  one  eye  at  a 
time,  kept  the  disengaged  one  charged  with  sisterly 

5 


At  Sunwich  Port 

solicitude  upon  her  brother.  The  captain,  with 
steadily  rising  anger,  endured  this  game  of  one-eyed 
bo-peep  for  five  minutes ;  then  he  rose  and,  mutter- 
ing strange  things  in  his  beard,  stalked  upstairs  to 
his  room. 

Mrs.  Kingdom,  thus  forsaken,  dried  her  eyes  and 
resumed  her  work.  The  remainder  of  the  family 
were  in  the  kitchen  ministering  to  the  wants  of  a 
misunderstood  steward,  and,  in  return,  extracting  in- 
formation which  should  render  them  independent  of 
the  captain's  version. 

"  Was  it  very  solemn,  Sam  ? "  inquired  Miss 
Nugent,  aged  nine,  who  was  sittting  on  the  kitchen 
table. 

Mr.  Wilks  used  his  hands  and  eyebrows  to  indi- 
cate the  solemnity  of  the  occasion. 

"  They  even  made  the  cap'n  leave  off  speaking,** 
he  said,  in  an  awed  voice. 

"  I  should  have  liked  to  have  been  there,"  said 
Master  Nugent,  dutifully. 

"  Ann,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  "  go  and  draw  Sam  a 
jug  of  beer." 

"  Beer,  Miss  ?  "  said  Ann. 

"  A  jug  of  beer,"  repeated  Miss  Nugent,  per- 
emptorily. 

Ann  took  a  jug  from  the  dresser,  and  Mr.  Wilks, 
who  was  watching  her,  coughed  helplessly.  His 
perturbation  attracted  the  attention  of  his  hostess, 

6 


At  Sunwich  Port 

and,  looking  round  for  the  cause,  she  was  just  in 
time  to  see  Ann  disappearing  into  the  larder  with  a 
cream-jug. 


"  His  perturbation  attracted  the  attention  of  his  hostess.** 

"  The  big  jug,  Ann,"  she  said,  impatiently  ;  "  you 
ought  to  know  Sam  would  like  a  big  one." 

7 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Ann  changed  the  jugs,  and,  ignoring  a  mild  tri- 
umph in  Mr.  Wilks's  eye,  returned  to  the  larder, 
whence  ensued  a  musical  trickling.  Then  Miss 
Nugent,  raising  the  jug  with  some  difficulty,  poured 
out  a  tumbler  for  the  steward  with  her  own  fair 
hands, 

"  Sam  likes  beer,"  she  said,  speaking  generally, 

"  I  knew  that  the  first  time  I  see  him,  Miss,"  re- 
marked the  vindictive  Ann. 

Mr.  Wilks  drained  his  glass  and  set  it  down  on 
the  table  again,  making  a  feeble  gesture  of  repulse  as 
Miss  Nugent  refilled  it. 

"  Go  on,  Sam,"  she  said,  with  kindly  encourage- 
ment; "  how  much  does  this  jug  hold.  Jack  ?  " 

"  Quart,"  replied  her  brother. 

"  How  many  quarts  are  there  in  a  gallon  ?  " 

"  Four." 

Miss  Nugent  looked  troubled.  "  I  heard  father 
say  he  drinks  gallons  a  day,"  she  remarked  ;  "  you'd 
better  fill  all  the  jugs,  Ann." 

"It  was  only  'is  way  o'  speaking,"  said  Mr.  Wilks, 
hurriedly;  "the  cap'n  is  like  that  sometimes." 

"  I  knew  a  man  once.  Miss,"  said  Ann,  "  as  used  to 
prefer  to  *ave  it  in  a  wash-hand  basin.  Odd,  ugly- 
looking  man  'e  was ;  like  Mr.  Wilks  in  the  face, 
only  better-looking." 

Mr.  Wilks  sat  upright  and,  in  the  mental  strug- 
gle involved  in  taking  in  this  insult  in  all  its  rami- 

8 


At  Sunwich  Port 

fications,  did  not  notice  until  too  late  that  Miss 
Nugent  had  filled  his  glass  again. 

"It  must  ha*  been  nice  for  the  captain  to  *ave  you 
with  'im  to-day,"  remarked  Ann,  carelessly. 

"It  was,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  pausing  with  the  glass 
at  his  lips  and  eyeing  her  sternly,  "  Eighteen 
years  I've  bin  with  'im — ever  since  'e  *ad  a  ship, 
*E  took  a  fancy  to  me  the  fust  time  'e  set  eyes 
on  me." 

"Were  you  better-looking  then,  Sam?"  inquired 
Miss  Nug-^nt,  shuffling  closer  to  him  on  the  table 
and  regarding  him  affectionately. 

"  Much  as  I  am  now.  Miss,"  replied  Mr,  Wilks, 
setting  down  his  glass  and  regarding  Ann's  giggles 
with  a  cold  eye. 

Miss  Nugent  sighed.  "  I  love  you,  Sam,"  she 
said,  simply.     "  Will  you  have  some  more  beer  ?  " 

Mr.  Wilks  declined  gracefully.  "  Eighteen  years 
I've  bin  with  the  cap'n,"  he  remarked,  softly ; 
**  through  calms  and  storms,  fair  weather  and  foul, 
Samson  Wilks  'as  been  by  'is  side,  always  ready  in  a 
quiet  and  'umble  way  to  do  'is  best  for  *im,  and  now 
— now  that  'e  is  on  his  beam-ends  and  lost  'is  ship, 
Samson  Wilks'll  sit  down  and  starve  ashore  till  he 
gets  another." 

At  these  touching  words  Miss  Nugent  was  undis- 
guisedly  affected,  and  wiping  her  bright  eyes  with  her 
pinafore,  gave  her  small,  well-shaped  nose  a  slight 

9 


At  Sunwich  Port 

touch  en  passant  with  the  same  useful  garment,  and 
squeezed  his  arm  affectionately. 

"  It's  a  lively  look-out  for  me  if  father  Is  going  to 
be  at  home  for  long,"  remarked  Master  Nugent. 
"  Who'll  get  his  ship,  Sam  ?  " 

"  Shouldn't  wonder  if  the  fust  officer,  Mr.  Hardy, 
got  it,"  replied  the  steward.  "  He  was  going  dead- 
slow  in  the  fog  afore  he  sent  down  to  rouse  your 
father,  and  as  soon  as  your  father  came  on  deck  'e 
went  at  'arfspeed.  Mr.  Hardy  was  commended,  and 
your  father's  certifikit  was  suspended  for  six  months." 

Master  Nugent  whistled  thoughtfully,  and  quit- 
ting the  kitchen  proceeded  upstairs  to  his  room,  and 
first  washing  himself  with  unusual  care  for  a  boy  of 
thirteen,  put  on  a  clean  collar  and  brushed  his  hair. 
He  was  not  going  to  provide  a  suspended  master- 
mariner  with  any  obvious  reasons  for  fault-finding. 
While  he  was  thus  occupied  the  sitting-room  bell 
rang,  and  Ann,  answering  it,  left  Mr.  Wilks  in  the 
kitchen  listening  with  some  trepidation  to  the  con- 
versation. 

"  Is  that  steward  of  mine  still  in  the  kitchen  ?  '* 
demanded  the  captain,  gruffly. 

"  Yessir,"  said  Ann. 

"  What's  he  doing  ?  " 

Mr.  Wilks's  ears  quivered  anxiously,  and  he  eyed 
with  unwonted  disfavour  the  evidences  of  his  late 
debauch. 

lO 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Sitting  down,  sir,"  replied  Ann. 

"  Give  him  a  glass  of  ale  and  send  him  off,"  com- 
manded the  captain ;  "  and  if  that  was  Miss  Kate  I 
heard  talking,  send  her  in  to  me." 

Ann  took  the  message  back  to  the  kitchen  and, 
with  the  air  of  a  martyr  engaged  upon  an  unpleasant 
task,  drew  Mr.  Wilks  another  glass  of  ale  and  stood 
over  him  with  well-affected  wonder  while  he  drank 
it.  Miss  Nugent  walked  into  the  sitting-room,  and 
listening  in  a  perfunctory  fashion  tb  a  shipmaster's 
platitude  on  kitchen-company,  took  a  seat  on  his 
knee  and  kissed  his  ear. 


If 


CHAPTER    II 

THE  downfall  of  Captain  Nugent  was  for 
some  time  a  welcome  subject  of  conversa- 
tion in  marine  circles  at  Sunwich.  At  The 
Goblets,  a  rambling  old  inn  with  paved  courtyard 
and  wooden  galleries,  which  almost  backed  on  to 
the  churchyard,  brother-captains  attributed  it  to  an 
error  of  judgment ;  at  the  Two  Schooners  on  the 
quay  the  profanest  of  sailormen  readily  attributed 
it  to  an  all-seeing  Providence  with  a  dislike  of  over- 
bearing ship-masters. 

The  captain's  cup  was  filled  to  the  brim  by  the 
promotion  of  his  first  officer  to  the  command  of  the 
Conqueror.  It  was  by  far  the  largest  craft  which 
sailed  from  the  port  of  Sunwich,  and  its  master  held 
a  corresponding  dignity  amongst  the  captains  of 
lesser  vessels.  Their  allegiance  was  now  transferred 
to  Captain  Hardy,  and  the  master  of  a  brig  which 
was  in  the  last  stages  of  senile  decay,  meeting  Nu- 
gent in  The  Goblets,  actually  showed  him  by  means 
of  two  lucifer  matches  how  the  collision  might  have 
been  avoided. 

A  touching  feature  in  the  business,  and  a  source 

13 


At  Sunwich  Port 

of  much  gratification  to  Mr.  Wilks  by  the  senti- 
mental applause  evoked  by  it,  was  his  renunciation 
of  the  post  of  steward  on  the  ss.  Conqueror.  Sun- 
wich  buzzed  with   the   tidings   that  after   eighteen 


•*A  welcome  subject  of  conversation  in  marine  circles." 

years'  service  with  Captain  Nugent  he  preferred 
starvation  ashore  to  serving  under  another  master. 
Although  comfortable  in  pocket  and  known  to  be 
living  with  his  mother,  who  kept  a  small  general 


At  Sunwich  Port 

shop,  he  was  regarded  as  a  man  on  the  brink  of 
starvation.  Pints  were  thrust  upon  him,  and  the 
tale  of  his  nobility  increased  with  much  narration. 
It  was  considered  that  the  whole  race  of  stewards 
had  acquired  fresh  lustre  from  his  action. 

His  only  unfavourable  critic  was  the  erring  captain 
himself.  He  sent  a  peremptory  summons  to  Mr. 
Willcs  to  attend  at  Equator  Lodge,  and  the  moment 
he  set  eyes  upon  that  piece  of  probity  embarked  upon 
such  a  vilification  of  his  personal  defects  and  character 
as  Mr.  Wilks  had  never  even  dreamt  of  He  wound 
up  by  ordering  him  to  rejoin  the  ship  forthwith. 

"  Arsking  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks, 
with  tender  reproach,  "  but  I  couldn't." 

"  Are  you  going  to  live  on  your  mother,  you 
hulking  rascal  ?  "  quoth  the  incensed  captain. 

"No,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks.  "I've  got  a  little 
money,  sir ;  enough  for  my  few  wants  till  we  sail 
again." 

"  When  I  sail  again  you  won't  come  with  me," 
said  the  captain,  grimly.  "  I  suppose  you  want  an 
excuse  for  a  soak  ashore  for  six  months  !  " 

Mr.  Wilks  twiddled  his  cap  in  his  hands  and 
smiled  weakly. 

"  I  thought  p'r'aps  as  you'd  like  me  to  come 
round  and  wait  at  table,  and  help  with  the  knives 
and  boots  and  such-like,"  he  said,  softly.  "Ann 
is  agreeable." 

14 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Get  out  of  the  house,"  said  the  captain  in  quiet, 
measured  tones. 

Mr.  Wilks  went,  but  on  his  way  to  the  gate  he 
picked  up  three  pieces  of  paper  which  had  blown 
into  the  garden,  weeded  two  pieces  of  grass  from  the 
path,  and  carefully  removed  a  dead  branch  from  a 
laurel  facing  the  window.  He  would  have  done 
more  but  for  an  imperative  knocking  on  the  glass, 
and  he  left  the  premises  sadly,  putting  his  collection 
of  rubbish  over  the  next  garden  fence  as  he  passed  it. 

But  the  next  day  the  captain's  boots  bore  such  a 
polish  that  he  was  able  to  view  his  own  startled  face 
in  them,  and  at  dinner-time  the  brightness  of  the 
knives  was  so  conspicuous  that  Mrs.  Kingdom 
called  Ann  in  for  the  purpose  of  asking  her  why 
she  didn't  always  do  them  like  that.  Her  brother 
ate  his  meal  in  silence,  and  going  to  his  room  after- 
wards discovered  every  pair  of  boots  he  possessed, 
headed  by  the  tall  sea-boots,  standing  in  a  nicely  grad- 
uated line  by  the  wall,  and  all  shining  their  hardest. 

For  two  days  did  Mr.  Wilks  do  good  by  stealth, 
leaving  Ann  to  blush  to  find  it  fame ;  but  on  the 
third  day  at  dinner,  as  the  captain  took  up  his  knife 
and  fork  to  carve,  he  became  aware  of  a  shadow 
standing  behind  his  chair.  A  shadow  in  a  blue 
coat  with  metal  buttons,  which,  whipping  up  the 
first  plate  carved,  carried  it  to  Mrs.  Kingdom,  and 
then  leaned  against  her  with  the  vegetable  dishes. 

15 


At  Sunwich  Port 

The  dishes  clattered  a  little  on  his  arm  as  he  helped 
the  captain,  but  the  latter,  after  an  impressive  pause 
and  a  vain  attempt  to  catch  the  eye  of  Mr.  Wilks, 
which  was  intent  upon  things  afar  off,  took  up  the 
spoon  and  helped  himself.  From  the  unwonted 
silence  of  Miss  Nugent  in  the  presence  of  anything 
unusual  it  was  clear  to  him  that  the  whole  thing 
had  been  carefully  arranged.  He  ate  in  silence, 
and  a  resolution  to  kick  Mr.  Wilks  off  the  prem- 
ises vanished  before  the  comfort,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  dignity,  afforded  by  his  presence.  Mr.  Wilks, 
somewhat  reassured,  favoured  Miss  Nugent  with  a 
wink  to  which,  although  she  had  devoted  much 
time  in  trying  to  acquire  the  art,  she  endeavoured  in 
vain  to  respond. 

It  was  on  the  day  following  this  that  Jack  Nu- 
gent, at  his  sister's  instigation,  made  an  attempt  to 
avenge  the  family  honour.  Miss  Nugent,  although 
she  treated  him  with  scant  courtesy  herself,  had  a 
touching  faith  in  his  prowess,  a  faith  partly  due  to 
her  brother  occasionally  showing  her  his  bicep 
muscles  in  moments  of  exaltation. 

"  There's  that  horrid  Jem  Hardy,"  she  said,  sud- 
denly, as  they  walked  along  the  road. 

"  So  it  is,"  said  Master  Nugent,  but  without  any 
display  of  enthusiasm. 

"  Halloa,  Jack,"  shouted  Master  Hardy  across 
the  road. 

i6 


At  Sunwich  Port 


••The  suspense  became  painful." 

"  Halloa,"  responded  the  other. 

"  He's  going  to  fight  you,"  shrilled  Miss  Nugent, 
who  thought  these  amenities  ill-timed  ;  "  he  said  so." 

Master  Hardy  crossed  the  road.     "  What  for? " 
he  demanded,  with  surprise. 

17 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Because  you're  a  nasty,  horrid  boy,"  replied 
Miss  Nugent,  drawing  herself  up. 

"  Oh,"  said  Master  Hardy,  blankly. 

The  two  gentlemen  stood  regarding  each  other 
with  uneasy  grins ;  the  lady  stood  by  in  breathless 
expectation.      The  suspense  became  painful. 

"  Who  are  you  staring  at  ?  "  demanded  Master 
Nugent,  at  last. 

"You,"  replied  the  other;  "who  are  you  star- 
ing at  ? " 

"  You,"  said  Master  Nugent,  defiantly. 

There  was  a  long  interval,  both  gentlemen  experi- 
encing some  difficulty  in  working  up  sufficient  heat 
for  the  engagement. 

"  You  hit  me  and  see  what  you'll  get,"  said  Mas- 
ter Hardy,  at  length. 

"  You  hit  me,"  said  the  other. 

"  Cowardy,  cowardy  custard,"  chanted  the  well- 
bred  Miss  Nugent,  "  ate  his  mother's  mustard. 
Cowardy,  cowardy  cus " 

"  Why  don't  you  send  that  kid  home?  "  demanded 
Master  Hardy,  eyeing  the  fair  songstress  with  strong 
disfavour. 

"  You  leave  my  sister  alone,"  said  the  other,  giv- 
ing him  a  light  tap  on  the  shoulder.  "  There's  your 
coward's  blow." 

Master  Hardy  made  a  ceremonious  return. 
"  There's  yours,"  he  said.  "  Let's  go  behind  the 
church." 

x8 


At  Sunwich  Port 

His  foe  assented,  and  they  proceeded  in  grave  si- 
lence to  a  piece  of  grass  screened  by  trees,  which 
stood  between  the  church  and  the  beach.  Here  they 
removed  their  coats  and  rolled  up  their  shirt-sleeves. 
Things  look  different  out  of  doors,  and  to  Miss  Nu- 
gent the  arms  of  both  gentlemen  seemed  somewhat 
stick-like  in  their  proportions. 

The  preliminaries  were  awful,  both  combatants 
prancing  round  each  other  with  their  faces  just  peer- 
ing above  their  bent  right  arms,  while  their  trusty 
lefts  dealt  vicious  blows  at  the  air.  Miss  Nugent 
turned  pale  and  caught  her  breath  at  each  blow, 
then  she  suddenly  reddened  with  wrath  as  James 
Philip  Hardy,  having  paid  his  tribute  to  science, 
began  to  hammer  John  Augustus  Nugent  about 
the  face  in  a  most  painful  and  workmanlike  fash- 
ion. 

She  hid  her  face  for  a  moment,  and  when  she 
looked  again  Jack  was  on  the  ground,  and  Master 
Hardy  just  rising  from  his  prostrate  body.  Then 
Jack  rose  slowly  and,  crossing  over  to  her,  borrowed 
her  handkerchief  and  applied  it  with  great  tenderness 
to  his  nose. 

"  Does  it  hurt.  Jack  ?  "  she  inquired,  anxiously. 

"  No,"  growled  her  brother. 

He  threw  down  the  handkerchief  and  turned  to 
his  opponent  again ;  Miss  Nugent,  who  was  careful 
about  her  property,  stooped  to  recover  it,  and  im- 
mediately found  herself  involved  in  a  twisting  tangle 

19 


At  Sunwich  Port 

of  legs,  from  which  she  escaped  by  a  miracle  to  see 
Master  Hardy  cuddling  her  brother  round  the  neck 
with  one  hand  and  punching  him  as  hard  and  as  fast 
as  he  could  with  the  other.  The  unfairness  of  it  mad- 
dened her,  and  the  next  moment  Master  Hardy's 
head  was  drawn  forcibly  backwards  by  the  hair. 
The  pain  was  so  excruciating  that  he  released  his  vic- 
tim at  once,  and  Miss  Nugent,  emitting  a  series  of 
terrified  yelps,  dashed  off  in  the  direction  of  home, 
her  hair  bobbing  up  and  down  on  her  shoulders,  and 
her  small  black  legs  in  an  ecstasy  of  motion. 

Master  Hardy,  with  no  very  well-defined  ideas  of 
what  he  was  going  to  do  if  he  caught  her,  started  in 
pursuit.  His  scalp  was  still  smarting  and  his  eyes 
watering  with  the  pain  as  he  pounded  behind  her. 
Panting  wildly  she  heard  him  coming  closer  and 
closer,  and  she  was  just  about  to  give  up  when,  to 
her  joy,  she  saw  her  father  coming  towards  them. 

Master  Hardy,  intent  on  his  quarry,  saw  him  just 
in  time,  and,  swerving  into  the  road,  passed  in  isafety 
as  Miss  Nugent  flung  herself  with  some  violence  at 
her  father's  waistcoat  and,  clinging  to  him  convul- 
sively, fought  for  breath.  It  was  some  time  before 
she  could  furnish  the  astonished  captain  with  full  de- 
tails, and  she  was  pleased  to  find  that  his  indignation 
led  him  to  ignore  the  hair-grabbing  episode,  on  which, 
to  do  her  justice,  she  touched  but  lightly. 

That  evening,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  Cap- 
20 


At  Sunwich  Port 

tain  Nugent,  after  some  deliberation,  called  upon  his 
late  mate.  The  old  servant  who,  since  Mrs.  Har- 
dy's death  the  year  before,  had  looked  after  the  house, 
was  out,  and  Hardy,  unaware  of  the  honour  intended 
him,  was  scandalized  by  the  manner  in  which  his  son 
received  the  visitor.  The  door  opened,  there  was 
an  involuntary  grunt  from  Master  Hardy,  and  the 
next  moment  he  sped  along  the  narrow  passage  and 
darted  upstairs.  His  father,  after  waiting  in  vain  for 
his  return,  went  to  the  door  himself. 

"  Good  evening,  cap'n,"  he  said,  in  surprise. 

Nugent  responded  gruffly,  and  followed  him  into 
the  sitting-room.  To  an  invitation  to  sit,  he  re- 
sponded more  gruffly  still  that  he  preferred  to  stand. 
He  then  demanded  instant  and  sufficient  punish- 
ment of  Master  Hardy  for  frightening  his  daugh- 
ter. 

Even  as  he  spoke  he  noticed  with  strong  disfa- 
vour the  change  which  had  taken  place  in  his  late  first 
officer.  The  change  which  takes  place  when  a  man 
is  promoted  from  that  rank  to  that  of  master  is  sub- 
tle, but  unmistakable — sometimes,  as  in  the  present 
instance,  more  unmistakable  than  subtle.  Captain 
Hardy  coiled  his  long,  sinewy  form  in  an  arm-chair 
and,  eyeing  him  calmly,  lit  his  pipe  before  replying. 

"  Boys  will  fight,"  he  said,  briefly. 

"  I'm  speaking  of  his  running  after  my  daughter,'* 
said  Nugent,  sternly. 

21 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Hardy's  eyes  twinkled.     "  Young  dog,"  he  said, 
genially  ;  "  at  his  age,  too." 

Captain  Nugent's  face  was  sufRised  with  wrath  at 


♦♦Captain  Hardy  lit  his  pipe  before  replying." 

the  pleasantry,  and  he  regarded  him  with  a  fixed  stare. 
On  board  the  Conqueror  there  was  a  witchery  in  that 
glance  more  potent  than  the  spoken  word,  but  in  his 
own  parlour  the  new  captain  met  it  calmly. 

23 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  I  didn't  come  here  to  listen  to  your  foolery/* 
said  Nugent ;  "  I  came  to  tell  you  to  punish  that 
boy  of  yours." 

"  And  I  sha'n't  do  it,"  replied  the  other.  "  I  have 
got  something  better  to  do  than  interfere  in  children's 
quarrels.     I  haven't  got  your  spare  time,  you  know." 

Captain  Nugent  turned  purple.  Such  language 
from  his  late  first  officer  was  a  revelation  to  him. 

"  I  also  came  to  warn  you,"  he  said,  furiously, 
"  that  I  shall  take  the  law  into  my  own  hands  if  you 
refuse." 

"Aye,  aye,"  said  Hardy,  with  careless  contempt; 
"  I'll  tell  him  to  keep  out  of  your  way.  But  I 
should  advise  you  to  wait  until  I  have  sailed." 

Captain  Nugent,  who  was  moving  towards  the 
door,  swung  round  and  confronted  him  savagely. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  What  I  say,"  retorted  Captain  Hardy..  "  I 
don't  want  to  indulge  Sunwich  with  the  spectacle  of 
two  middle-aged  ship-masters  at  fisticuffs,  but  that's 
what'll  happen  if  you  touch  my  boy.  It  would  prob- 
ably please  the  spectators  more  than  it  would  us." 

"  I'll  cane  him  the  first  time  I  lay  hands  on  him," 
roared  Captain  Nugent. 

Captain  Hardy's  stock  of  patience  was  at  an  end, 
and  there  was,  moreover,  a  long  and  undischarged 
account  between  himself  and  his  late  skipper.  He 
rose  and  crossed  to  the  door. 

23 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"Jem,"  he  cried,  "come  downstairs  and  show 
Captain  Nugent  out." 

There  was  a  breathless  pause.  Captain  Nugent 
ground  his  teeth  with  fury  as  he  saw  the  challenge, 
and  realized  the  ridiculous  position  into  which  his 
temper  had  led  him  ;  and  the  other,  who  was  also 
careful  of  appearances,  repented  the  order  the  mo- 
ment he  had  given  it.  Matters  had  now,  however, 
passed  out  of  their  hands,  and  both  men  cast  apprais- 
ing glances  at  each  other's  form.  The  only  one 
who  kept  his  head  was  Master  Hardy,  and  it  was  a 
source  of  considerable  relief  to  both  of  them  when, 
from  the  top  of  the  stairs,  the  voice  of  that  youthful 
Solomon  was  heard  decHning  in  the  most  positive 
terms  to  do  anything  of  the  kind. 

Captain  Hardy  repeated  his  command.  The  only 
reply  was  the  violent  closing  of  a  door  at  the  top  of 
the  house,  and  after  waiting  a  short  time  he  led  the 
way  to  the  front  door  himself. 

"  You  will  regret  your  insolence  before  I  have  done 
with  you,"  said  his  visitor,  as  he  paused  on  the  step. 
"  It's  the  old  story  of  a  beggar  on  horseback." 

"  It's  a  good  story,"  said  Captain  Hardy,  "  but  to 
my  mind  it  doesn't  come  up  to  the  one  about  Hump- 
ty-Dumpty.     Good-night." 


94 


CHAPTER  III 

IF  anything  was  wanted  to  convince  Captain  Nu- 
gent that  his  action  had  been  foolish  and  his 
language  intemperate  it  was  borne  in  upon  him 
by  the  subsequent  behaviour  of  Master  Hardy. 
Generosity  is  seldom  an  attribute  of  youth,  while 
egotism,  on  the  other  hand,  is  seldom  absent.  So  far 
from  realizing  that  the  captain  would  have  scorned 
such  lowly  game,  Master  Hardy  believed  that  he 
lived  for  little  else,  and  his  Jack-in-the-box  ubiquity 
was  a  constant  marvel  and  discomfort  to  that  irritable 
mariner.  Did  he  approach  a  seat  on  the  beach,  it 
was  Master  Hardy  who  rose  (at  the  last  moment)  to 
make  room  for  him.  Did  he  stroll  down  to  the  har- 
bour, it  was  in  the  wake  of  a  small  boy  looking  coyly 
at  him  over  his  shoulder.  Every  small  alley  as  he 
passed  seemed  to  contain  a  Jem  Hardy,  who  whizzed 
out  like  a  human  firework  in  front  of  him,  and  then 
followed  dancing  on  his  toes  a  pace  or  two  in  his  rear. 
This  was  on  week-days ;  on  the  Sabbath  Master 
Hardy's  daring  ingenuity  led  him  to  still  further 
flights.  All  the  seats  at  the  parish  church  were  frte, 
but  Captain  Nugent,  whose  admirable  practice  it  was 

25 


At  Sunwich  Port 

to  take  his  entire  family  to  church,  never  thoroughly 
realized  how  free  they  were  until  Master  Hardy 
squeezed  his  way  in  and,  taking  a  seat  next  to  him, 
prayed  with  unwonted  fervour  into  the  interior  of  a 
new  hat,  and  then  sitting  back  watched  with  polite 
composure  the  efforts  of  Miss  Nugent's  family  to  re- 
strain her  growing  excitement. 

Charmed  with  the  experiment,  he  repeated  it  the 
following  Sunday.  This  time  he  boarded  the  seat 
from  the  other  end,  and  seeing  no  place  by  the  cap- 
tain, took  one,  or  more  correctly  speaking  made  one, 
between  Miss  Nugent  and  Jack,  and  despite  the 
former's  elbow  began  to  feel  almost  like  one  of  the 
family.  Hostile  feelings  vanished,  and  with  an 
amiable  smile  at  the  half-frantic  Miss  Nugent  he 
placed  a  "  bull's-eye  "  of  great  strength  in  his  cheek, 
and  leaning  forward  for  a  hymn-book  left  one  on  the 
ledge  in  front  of  Jack.  A  double-distilled  perfume 
at  once  assailed  the  atmosphere. 

Miss  Nugent  sat  dazed  at  his  impudence,  and  for 
the  first  time  in  her  life  doubts  as  to  her  father's 
capacity  stirred  within  her.  She  attempted  the  poor 
consolation  of  an  "  acid  tablet,"  and  it  was  at  once 
impounded  by  the  watchful  Mrs.  Kingdom.  Mean- 
time the  reek  of  "  bull's-eyes  "  was  insufferable. 

The  service  seemed  interminable,  and  all  that  time 
the  indignant  damsel,  wedged  in  between  her  aunt 
and  the  openly  exultant  enemy  of  her  House,  was 

26 


At  Sunwich  Port 


compelled  to  endure  in  silence.     She  did  indeed  at- 
tempt one  remark,  and  Master  Hardy,  with  a  hor- 


rified  expression 
of  outraged  piety, 
said  "  H'sh,"  and 
shook  his  head  at 
her.  It  was  al- 
more  than 
and  blood 
bear,  and 
the  unob- 
servant Mrs, 
Kingdom  asked  her  for  the  text  on  the  way  home 
her  reply  nearly  cost  her  the  loss  of  her  dinner. 

The  Conqueror,  under  its  new  commander,  sailed 
on  the  day  following.  Mr.  Wilks  watched  it  from  the 

27 


•*  Mr.  Wilks  watched  it  from  the 


quay. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

quay,  and  the  new  steward  observing  him  came  to  the 
side,  and  holding  aloft  an  old  pantry-cloth  between  his 
finger  and  thumb  until  he  had  attracted  his  attention, 
dropped  it  overboard  with  every  circumstance  of  ex- 
aggerated horror.  By  the  time  a  suitable  retort  had 
occurred  to  the  ex-steward  the  steamer  was  half  a 
mile  distant,  and  the  extraordinary  and  unnatural 
pantomime  in  which  he  indulged  on  the  edge  of  the 
quay  was  grievously  misinterpreted  by  a  nervous  man 
in  a  sailing  boat. 

Master  Hardy  had  also  seen  the  ship  out,  and, 
perched  on  the  extreme  end  of  the  breakwater,  he  re- 
mained watching  until  she  was  hull  down  on  the 
horizon.  Then  he  made  his  way  back  to  the  town 
and  the  nearest  confectioner,  and  started  for  home 
just  as  Miss  Nugent,  who  was  about  to  pay  a  call 
with  her  aunt,  waited,  beautifully  dressed,  in  the  front 
garden  while  that  lady  completed  her  preparations. 

Feeling  very  spic  and  span,  and  still  a  trifle  un- 
comfortable from  the  vigorous  attentions  of  Ann, 
who  cleansed  her  as  though  she  had  been  a  doorstep, 
she  paced  slowly  up  and  down  the  path.  Upon 
these  occasions  of  high  dress  a  spirit  of  Sabbath  calm 
was  wont  to  descend  upon  her  and  save  her  from 
escapades  to  which  in  a  less  severe  garb  she  was 
somewhat  prone. 

She  stopped  at  the  gate  and  looked  up  the  road. 
Then  her  face  flushed,  and  she  cast  her  eyes  behind 

29 


At  Sunwich  Port 

her  to  make  sure  that  the  hall-door  stood  open. 
The  hated  scion  of  the  house  of  Hardy  was  coming 
down  the  road,  and,  in  view  of  that  fact,  she  forgot 
all  else — even  her  manners. 

The  boy,  still  fresh  from  the  loss  of  his  natural 
protector,  kept  a  wary  eye  on  the  house  as  he  ap- 
proached. Then  all  expression  died  out  of  his  face, 
and  he  passed  the  gate,  blankly  ignoring  the  small 
girl  who  was  leaning  over  it  and  apparently  suffering 
from  elephantiasis  of  the  tongue.  He  went  by  qui- 
etly, and  Miss  Nugent,  raging  inwardly  that  she  had 
misbehaved  to  no  purpose,  withdrew  her  tongue  for 
more  legitimate  uses. 

"  Boo,"  she  cried  ;  "  who  had  his  hair  pulled  ?  " 

Master  Hardy  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way. 

"  Who's  afraid  to  answer  me  for  fear  my  father 
will  thrash  him  ?  "  cried  the  disappointed  lady,  rais- 
ing her  voice. 

This  was  too  much.  The  enemy  retraced  his 
steps  and  came  up  to  the  gate. 

"  You're  a  rude  little  girl,"  he  said,  with  an  insuf^ 
ferably  grown-up  air. 

"  Who  had  his  hair  pulled  ? "  demanded  Miss 
Nugent, capering  wildly;  "who  had  his  hair  pulled?" 

"  Don't  be  silly,"  said  Master  Hardy.     "  Here." 

He  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket,  and  producing 

some  nuts  offered  them  over  the  gate.     At  this  Miss 

Nugent  ceased  her  capering,  and  wrath  possessed  her 

29 


At  Sunwich  Port 

that  the  enemy  should  thus  misunderstand  the  grav- 
ity of  the  situation. 

"  Well,  give  'em  to  Jack,  then,"  pursued  the  boy ; 
"  he  won't  say  no." 

This  was  a  distinct  reflection  on  Jack's  loyalty, 
and  her  indignation  was  not  lessened  by  the  fact  that 
she  knew  it  was  true. 

"  Go  away  from  our  gate,"  she  stormed.  "  If  my 
father  catches  you,  you'll  suffer." 

"  Pooh  !  "  said  the  dare-devil.  He  looked  up  at 
the  house  and  then,  opening  the  gate,  strode  boldly 
into  the  front  garden.  Before  this  intrusion  Miss 
Nugent  retreated  in  alarm,  and  gaining  the  door- 
step gazed  at  him  in  dismay.  Then  her  face 
cleared  suddenly,  and  Master  Hardy  looking  over 
his  shoulder  saw  that  his  retreat  was  cut  off  by  Mr. 
Wilks. 

"  Don't  let  him  hurt  me,  Sam,"  entreated  Miss 
Nugent,  piteously. 

Mr.  Wilks  came  into  the  garden  and  closed  the 
gate  behind  him. 

"  I  wasn't  going  to  hurt  her,"  cried  Master  Har- 
dy, anxiously  ;  "  as  if  I  should  hurt  a  girl !  " 

"  Wot  are  you  doing  in  our  front  garden,  then  ?  " 
demanded  Mr.  Wilks. 

He  sprang  forward  suddenly  and,  catching  the  boy 
by  the  collar  with  one  huge  hand,  dragged  him,  strug- 
gling  violently,  down   the   side-entrance   into    the 

30 


At  Sunwich  Port 

back  garden.  Miss  Nugent,  following  close  behind, 
sought  to  improve  the  occasion. 

"  See  what  you  get  by  coming  into  our  garden/' 
she  said. 

The  victim  made  no  reply.  He  was  writhing 
strenuously  in  order  to  frustrate  Mr.  Wilks's  evi- 
dent desire  to  arrange  him  comfortably  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  stick  he  was  carrying.  Satisfied 
at  last,  the  ex-steward  raised  his  weapon,  and  for  some 
seconds  plied  it  briskly.  Miss  Nugent  trembled, 
but  sternly  repressing  sympathy  for  the  sufferer,  was 
pleased  that  the  long  arm  of  justice  had  at  last  over- 
taken him. 

"  Let  him  go  now,  Sam,"  she  said  ;  "  he's  crying." 

"  I'm  w<7/,"  yelled  Master  Hardy,  frantically. 

"  I  can  see  the  tears,"  declared  Miss  Nugent, 
bending. 

Mr.  Wilks  plied  the  rod  again  until  his  victim, 
with  a  sudden  turn,  fetched  him  a  violent  kick  on 
the  shin  and  broke  loose.  The  ex-steward  set  off 
in  pursuit,  somewhat  handicapped  by  the  fact  that 
he  dare  not  go  over  flower-beds,  whilst  Master  Hardy 
was  singularly  free  from  such  prejudices.  Miss  Nu- 
gent ran  to  the  side-entrance  to  cut  off  his  retreat. 
She  was  willing  for  him  to  be  released,  but  not  to 
escape,  and  so  it  fell  out  that  the  boy,  dodging  be- 
neath Mr.  Wilks's  outspread  arms,  charged  blindly 
up  the  side-entrance  and  bowled  the  young  lady  over, 

31 


At  Sunwich  Port 

There  was  a  shrill  squeal,  a  flutter  of  white,  and  a 
neat  pair  of  button  boots  waving  in  the  air.  Then 
Miss  Nugent,  sobbing  piteously,  rose  from  the  pud- 
dle into  which  she  had  fallen  and  surveyed  her  gar- 
ments. Mr.  Wilks  surveyed  them,  too,  and  a  very 
cursory  glance  was  sufficient  to  show  him  that  the 
case  was  beyond  his  powers.  He  took  the  outraged 
damsel  by  the  hand,  and  led  her,  howling  lustily,  in 
to  the  horrified  Ann. 

"  My  word,"  said  she,  gasping.  "  Look  at  your 
gloves  !     Look  at  your  frock  ! " 

But  Miss  Nugent  was  looking  at  her  knees. 
There  was  only  a  slight  redness  about  the  left,  but 
from  the  right  a  piece  of  skin  was  indubitably  miss- 
ing. This  knee  she  gave  Ann  instructions  to  foment 
with  fair  water  of  a  comfortable  temperature,  indulg- 
ing in  satisfied  prognostications  as  to  the  fate  of  Master 
Hardy  when  her  father  should  see  the  damage. 

The  news,  when  the  captain  came  home,  was  broken 
to  him  by  degrees.  He  was  first  shown  the  flower- 
beds by  Ann,  then  Mrs.  Kingdom  brought  in  vari- 
ous soiled  garments,  and  at  the  psychological  moment 
his  daughter  bared  her  knees. 

"  What  will  you  do  to  him,  father  ?  "  she  inquired. 

The  captain  ignored  the  question  in  favour  of  a 
few  remarks  on  the  subject  of  his  daughter's  be- 
haviour, coupled  with  stern  inquiries  as  to  where  she 
*earnt  such  tricks.     In  reply  Miss  Nugent  sheltered 

32 


At  Sunwich  Port 

herself  behind  a  Ust  which  contained  the  names  of  all 
the  young  gentlemen  who  attended  her  kindergarten 
class  and  many  of  the  young  ladies,  and  again  in- 
quired as  to  the  fate  of  her  assailant. 

Jack  came  in  soon  after,  and  the  indefatigable  Miss 
Nugent  produced  her  knees  again.  She  had  to  de- 
scribe the  injury  to  the  left,  but  the  right  spoke  for 
itself.  Jack  gazed  at  it  with  indignation,  and  then, 
without  waiting  for  his  tea,  put  on  his  cap  and  sallied 
out  again. 

He  returned  an  hour  later,  and  instead  of  entering 
the  sitting-room  went  straight  upstairs  to  bed,  from 
whence  he  sent  down  word  by  the  sympathetic  Ann 
that  he  was  suffering  from  a  bad  headache,  which  he 
proposed  to  treat  with  raw  meat  applied  to  the  left 
eye.  His  nose,  which  was  apparently  suffering  from 
sympathetic  inflammation,  he  left  to  take  care  of 
itself,  that  organ  bitterly  resenting  any  treatment 
whatsoever. 

He  described  the  battle  to  Kate  and  Ann  the  next 
day,  darkly  ascribing  his  defeat  to  a  mysterious  com- 
pound which  Jem  Hardy  was  believed  to  rub  into 
his  arms  ;  to  a  foolish  error  of  judgment  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  fray,  and  to  the  sun  which  shone  per- 
sistently in  his  eyes  all  the  time.  His  audience 
received  the  explanations  in  chilly  silence. 

"  And  he  said  it  was  an  accident  he  knocked  you 
down,"    he   concluded ;   "  he   said   he    hoped   you 

33 


At  Sunwich  Port 

weren't  hurt,   and   he   gave   me    some    toffee   for 
you." 


Master  Hardy  on  the  beach 
enacting  the  part  of  David. 


"  What  did  you  do  with  it  ? "  demanded  Miss 
Nugent. 

"I    knew    you    wouldn't   have    it,"   replied   her 
34 


At  Sunwich  Port 

brother,  inconsequently,  "  and  there  wasn't  much 
of  it." 

His  sister  regarded  him  sharply. 

"You  don't  mean  to  say  you  ate  it  ?  "  she  screamed. 

"  Why  not  ?  "  demanded  her  brother.  "  I  wanted 
comforting,  I  can  tell  you." 

"  I  wonder  you  were  not  too — too  proud,"  said 
Miss  Nugent,  bitterly. 

"I'm  never  too  proud  to  eat  toffee,"  retorted 
Jack,  simply. 

He  stalked  off  in  dudgeon  at  the  lack  of  sympathy 
displayed  by  his  audience,  and  being  still  in  need  of 
comforting  sought  it  amid  the  raspberry-canes. 

His  father  noted  his  son's  honourable  scars,  but 
made  no  comment.  As  to  any  action  on  his  own 
part,  he  realized  to  the  full  the  impotence  of  a  law- 
abiding  and  dignified  citizen  when  confronted  by 
lawless  youth.  But  Master  Hardy  came  to  church 
no  more.  Indeed,  the  following  Sunday  he  was  fully 
occupied- on  the  beach,  enacting  the  part  of  David, 
after  first  impressing  the  raving  Mr.  Wilks  into  that 
of  Goliath. 


35 


CHAPTER    IV 

FOR  the  next  month  or  two  Master  Hardy*s 
existence  was  brightened  by  the  efforts  of  an 
elderly  steward  who  made  no  secret  of  his 
intentions  of  putting  an  end  to  it.  Mr.  Wilks  at 
first  placed  great  reliance  on  the  saw  that  "  it  is  the 
early  bird  that  catches  the  worm,"  but  lost  faith  in 
it  when  he  found  that  it  made  no  provision  for  cases 
in  which  the  worm  leaning  from  its  bedroom  win- 
dow addressed  spirited  remonstrances  to  the  bird 
on  the  subject  of  its  personal  appearance. 

To  the  anxious  inquiries  of  Miss  Nugent,  Mr. 
Wilks  replied  that  he  was  biding  his  time.  Every 
delay,  he  hinted,  made  it  worse  for  Master  Hardy 
when  the  day  of  retribution  should  dawn,  and  al- 
though she  pleaded  earnestly  for  a  little  on  account 
he  was  unable  to  meet  her  wishes.  Before  that  day 
came,  however.  Captain  Nugent  heard  of  the  pro- 
ceedings, and  after  a  painful  interview  with  the 
steward,  during  which  the  latter's  failings  by  no 
means  escaped  attention,  confined  him  to  the  house. 

An  excellent  reason  for  absenting  himself  from 
school  was  thus  denied  to  Master  Hardy ;  but  it 
has  been  well  said  that  when  one  door  closes  another 

.x6 


At  Sunwich  Port 

opens,  and  to  his  great  satisfaction  the  old  servant, 
who  had  been  in  poor  health  for  some  time,  suddenly 


'*  Mr.  Wllks  replied  that  he  was  biding  his  time 


took  to  her  bed  and  required  his  undivided  atten- 
tion. 

He  treated  her  at  first  with  patent  medicines  pur- 
37 


At  Sunwich  Port 

chased  at  the  chemist's,  a  doctor  being  regarded  by 
both  of  them  as  a  piece  of  unnecessary  extravagance  ; 
but  in  spite  of  four  infallible  remedies  she  got 
steadily  worse.  Then  a  doctor  was  called  in,  and 
by  the  time  Captain  Hardy  returned  home  she  had 
made  a  partial  recovery,  but  was  clearly  incapable  of 
further  work.  She  left  in  a  cab  to  accept  a  home 
with  a  niece,  leaving  the  captain  confronted  with  a 
problem  which  he  had  seen  growing  for  some  time 
past. 

"  I  can't  make  up  my  mind  what  to  do  with  you,** 
he  observed,  regarding  his  son. 

"  I'm  very  comfortable,"  was  the  reply. 

**  You're  too  comfortable,"  said  his  father. 
"  You're  running  wild.  It's  just  as  well  poor  old 
Martha  has  gone;  it  has  brought  things  to  a  head." 

"  We  could  have  somebody  else,"  suggested  his 
son. 

The  captain  shook  his  head.  "  I'll  give  up  the 
house  and  send  you  to  London  to  your  Aunt  Mary," 
he  said,  slowly ;  "  she  doesn't  know  you,  and  once 
I'm  at  sea  and  the  house  given  up,  she  won't  be 
able  to  send  you  back." 

Master  Hardy,  who  was  much  averse  to  leaving 
Sunwich  and  had  heard  accounts  of  the  lady  in 
question  which  referred  principally  to  her  strength 
of  mind,  made  tender  inquiries  concerning  his 
father's  comfort  while  ashore. 

38 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"I'll  take  rooms,"  was  the  reply,  "and  I  shall 
spend  as  much  time  as  I  can  with  you  in  London. 
You  want  looking  after,  my  son;  I've  heard  all 
about  you." 

His  son,  without  inquiring  as  to  the  nature  of  the 
information,  denied  it  at  once  upon  principle ;  he 
also  alluded  darkly  to  his  education,  and  shook  his 
head  over  the  effects  of  a  change  at  such  a  critical 
period  of  his  existence. 

"  And  you  talk  too  much  for  your  age,"  was  his 
father's  comment  when  he  had  finished.  "  A  year 
or  two  with  your  aunt  ought  to  make  a  nice  boy  of 
you;  there's  plenty  of  room  for  improvement." 

He  put  his  plans  in  hand  at  once,  and  a  week 
before  he  sailed  again  had  disposed  of  the  house. 
Some  of  the  furniture  he  kept  for  himself;  but  the 
bulk  of  it  went  to  his  sister  as  conscience-money. 

Master  Hardy,  in  very  low  spirits,  watched  it 
taken  away.  Big  men  in  hob-nailed  boots  ran 
noisily  up  the  bare  stairs,  and  came  down  slowly, 
steering  large  pieces  of  furniture  through  narrow 
passages,  and  using  much  vain  repetition  when  they 
found  their  hands  acting  as  fenders.  The  wardrobe, 
a  piece  of  furniture  which  had  been  built  for  larger 
premises,  was  a  particularly  hard  nut  to  crack,  but 
they  succeeded  at  last — in  three  places. 

A  few  of  his  intimates  came  down  to  see  the  last 
of  him,  and  Miss  Nugent,  who  in  some  feminine 

39 


At  Sunwich  Port 

fashion  regarded  the  move  as  a  triumph  for  her  fam- 
ily, passed  by  several  times.  It  might  have  been 
chance,  it  might  have  been  design,  but  the  boy  could 


•*A  particularly  hard  nut.** 

not  help  noticing  that  when  the  piano,  the  wardrobe, 
and  other  fine  pieces  were  being  placed  in  the  van, 
she  was  at  the  other  end  of  the  road    a  position 

40 


At  Sunwich  Port 

from  which  such  curios  as  a  broken  washstand  or  a 
two-legged  chair  never  failed  to  entice  her. 

It  was  over  at  last.  The  second  van  had  disap- 
peared, and  nothing  was  left  but  a  litter  of  straw 
and  paper.  The  front  door  stood  open  and  revealed 
desolation.  Miss  Nugent  came  to  the  gate  and 
stared  in  superciliously. 

"I'm  glad  you're  going,"  she  said,  frankly. 

Master  Hardy  scarcely  noticed  her.  One  of  his 
friends  who  concealed  strong  business  instincts  be- 
neath a  sentimental  exterior  had  suggested  souvenirs 
and  given  him  a  spectacle-glass  said  to  have  belonged 
to  Henry  VIII.,  and  he  was  busy  searching  his 
pockets  for  an  adequate  return.  Then  Captain 
Hardy  came  up,  and  first  going  over  the  empty 
house,  came  out  and  bade  his  son  accompany  him 
to  the  station.  A  minute  or  two  later  and  they 
were  out  of  sight;  the  sentimentalist  stood  on  the 
curb  gloating  over  a  newly  acquired  penknife,  and 
Miss  Nugent,  after  being  strongly  reproved  by  him 
for  curiosity,  paced  slowly  home  with  her  head  in 
the  air.  i 

Sunwich  made  no  stir  over  the  departure  of  one 
of  its  youthful  citizens.  Indeed,  it  lacked  not  those 
who  would  have  cheerfully  parted  with  two  or  three 
hundred  more.  The  boy  was  quite  chilled  by  the 
tameness  of  his  exit,  and  for  years  afterwards  the 
desolate    appearance  of  the   platform   as  the   train 

41 


At  Sunwich  Port 

steamed  out  occurred  to  him  with  an  odd  sense  of 
discomfort.  In  all  Sunwich  there  was  only  one  per- 
son who  grieved  over  his  departure,  and  he,  after 
keeping  his  memory  green  for  two  years,  wrote  off 
fivepence  as  a  bad  debt  and  dismissed  him  from  his 
thoughts. 

Two  months  after  the  Conqueror  had  sailed  again 
Captain  Nugent  obtained  command  of  a  steamer 
sailing  between  London  and  the  Chinese  ports. 
From  the  gratified  lips  of  Mr.  Wilks,  Sunwich  heard 
of  this  new  craft,  the  particular  glory  of  which  ap- 
peared to  be  the  luxurious  appointments  of  the 
steward's  quarters.  Language  indeed  failed  Mr. 
Wilks  in  describing  it,  and,  pressed  for  details,  he 
could  only  murmur  disjointedly  of  satin-wood, 
polished  brass,  and  crimson  velvet. 

Jack  Nugent  hailed  his  father's  departure  with 
joy.  They  had  seen  a  great  deal  of  each  other  dur- 
ing the  latter's  prolonged  stay  ashore,  and  neither 
had  risen  in  the  other's  estimation  in  consequence. 
He  became  enthusiastic  over  the  sea  as  a  profession 
for  fathers,  and  gave  himself  some  airs  over  acquaint- 
ances less  fortunately  placed.  In  the  first  flush  of 
liberty  he  took  to  staying  av/ay  from  school,  the  edu« 
cation  thus  lost  being  only  partially  atoned  for  by  a 
grown-up  style  of  composition  engendered  by  dic- 
tating excuses  to  the  easy-going  Mrs.  Kingdom. 

At  seventeen  he  learnt,  somewhat  to  his  surprise, 
4» 


At  Sunwich  Port 


that  his  education  was  finished.  His  father  pro- 
vided the  information  and,  simply  as  a  matter  of 
form,  consulted  him  as  to  his  views  for  the  future. 
It  was  an  important 
thing  to  decide  upon 
at  short  notice,  but 
he  was  equal  to  it, 
and,  having  suggested 
gold-digging  as  the 
only  profession  he 
cared  for,  was  prompt- 
ly provided  by  the 
incensed  captain  with 
a  stool  in  the  local 
bank. 

He  occupied  it  for 
three  weeks,  a  period 
of  time  which  coin- 
cided to  a  day  with 
his  father's  leave 
ashore.  He  left  be- 
hind him  his  initials 
cut  deeply  in  the  lid 
of  his  desk,  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  cheap  fic- 
tion, and  a  few  experiments  in  book-keeping  which 
the  manager  ultimately  solved  with  red  ink  and  a 
ruler. 

A  slight  uneasiness  as  to  the  wisdom  of  his  pro- 

43 


"  A  stool  in  the  local  bank." 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ceedings  occurred  to  him  just  before  his  father's  re- 
turn, but  he  comforted  himself  and  Kate  with  the 
undeniable  truth  that  after  all  the  captain  couldn't 
eat  him.  He  was  afraid,  however,  that  the  latter 
would  be  displeased,  and,  with  a  constitutional  ob- 
jection to  unpleasantness,  he  contrived  to  be  out 
when  he  returned,  leaving  to  Mrs.  Kingdom  the 
task  of  breaking  the  news. 

The  captain's  reply  was  brief  and  to  the  point. 
He  asked  his  son  whether  he  would  like  to  go  to 
sea,  and  upon  receiving  a  decided  answer  in  the 
negative,  at  once  took  steps  to  send  him  there.  In 
two  days  he  had  procured  him  an  outfit,  and  within 
a  week  Jack  Nugent,  greatly  to  his  own  surprise, 
was  on  the  way  to  Melbourne  as  apprentice  on  the 
barque  Silver  Stream. 

He  liked  it  even  less  than  the  bank.  The  mo- 
notony of  the  sea  was  appalling  to  a  youth  of  his 
tastes,  and  the  fact  that  the  skipper,  a  man  who 
never  spoke  except  to  find  fault,  was  almost  loqua- 
cious with  him  failed  to  afford  him  any  satisfaction. 
He  liked  the  mates  no  better  than  the  skipper,  and 
having  said  as  much  one  day  to  the  second  officer, 
had  no  reason  afterwards  to  modify  his  opinions. 
He  lived  a  life  apart,  and  except  for  the  cook,  an- 
other martyr  to  fault-finding,  had  no  society. 

In  these  uncongenial  circumstances  the  new  ap- 
prentice worked  for  four  months  as  he  had  never 

44 


At  Sunwich  Port 

believed  it  possible  he  could  work.  He  was  an- 
noyed both  at  the  extent  and  the  variety  of  his  tasks, 
the  work  of  an  A.B.  being  gratuitously  included  in 
his  curriculum.  The  end  of  the  voyage  found  him 
desperate,  and  after  a  hasty  consultation  with  the 
cook  they  deserted  together  and  went  up-country. 

Letters,  dealing  mainly  with  the  ideas  and  ad- 
ventures of  the  cook,  reached  Sunwich  at  irregular 
intervals,  and  were  eagerly  perused  by  Mrs.  King- 
dom and  Kate,  but  the  captain  forbade  all  mention 
of  him.  Then  they  ceased  altogether,  and  after  a 
year  or  two  of  unbroken  silence  Mrs.  Kingdom  as- 
serted herself,  and  a  photograph  in  her  possession, 
the  only  one  extant,  exposing  the  missing  Jack  in 
petticoats  and  sash,  suddenly  appeared  on  the  draw- 
ing-room mantelpiece 

The  captain  stared,  but  made  no  comment.  Dis- 
appointed in  his  son,  he  turned  for  consolation  to  his 
daughter,  noting  with  some  concern  the  unaccounta- 
ble changes  which  that  young  lady  underwent  during 
his  absences.  He  noticed  a  difference  after  every 
voyage.  He  left  behind  him  on  one  occasion  a  nice 
trim  little  girl,  and  returned  to  find  a  creature  all  legs 
and  arms.  He  returned  again  and  found  the  arms 
less  obnoxious  and  the  legs  hidden  by  a  long  skirt ; 
and  as  he  complained  in  secret  astonishment  to  his 
sister,  she  had  developed  a  motherly  manner  in  her 
dealings  with  him  which  was  almost  unbearable. 

45 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  She'll  grow  out  of  it  soon,"  said  Mrs.  King- 
dom ;  "  you  wait  and  see." 

The  captain  growled  and  waited,  and  found  his 
sister's  prognostications  partly  fulfilled.  The  exu- 
berance of  Miss  Nugent's  manner  was  certainly 
modified  by  time,  but  she  developed  instead  a  quiet, 
unassuming  habit  of  authority  which  he  liked  as 
little. 

"  She  gets  made  such  a  fuss  of,  it's  no  wonder,'* 
said  Mrs.  Kingdom,  with  a  satisfied  smile.  "  I 
never  heard  of  a  girl  getting  as  much  attention  as 
she  does  ;  it's  a  wonder  her  head  isn't  turned." 

"  Eh  ! "  said  the  startled  captain  ;  "  she'd  better 
not  let  me  see  anything  of  it." 

"  Just  so,"  said  Mrs.  Kingdom. 

The  captain  dwelt  on  these  words  and  kept  his 
eyes  open,  and,  owing  to  his  daughter's  benevolent 
eflforts  on  his  behalf,  had  them  fully  occupied.  He 
went  to  sea  firmly  convinced  that  she  would  do 
something  foolish  in  the  matrimonial  line,  the  glow- 
ing terms  in  which  he  had  overheard  her  describing 
the  charms  of  the  new  postman  to  Mrs.  Kingdom 
filling  him  with  the  direst  forebodings. 

It  was  his  last  voyage.  An  unexpected  windfall 
from  an  almost  forgotten  uncle  and  his  own  invest- 
ments had  placed  him  in  a  position  of  modest  com- 
fort, and  just  before  Miss  Nugent  reached  her  twen- 
tieth birthday  he  resolved  to    spend  his   declining 

46 


At  Sunwich  Port 

days  ashore  and  give  her  those  advantages  of  pa- 
rental attention  from  which  she  had  been  so  long  de- 
barred. 

Mr.  Wilks,  to  the  inconsolable  grief  of  his  ship- 
mates, left  with  him.  He  had  been  for  nearly  a 
couple  of  years  in  receipt  of  an  annuity  purchased 
for  him  under  the  will  of  his  mother,  and  his  defec- 
tion left  a  gap  never  to  be  filled  among  comrades 
who  had  for  some  time  regarded  him  in  the  light  of 
an  improved  drinking  fountain. 


CHAPTER   V 

ON  a  fine  afternoon,  some  two  months  after 
his  release  from  the  toils  of  the  sea,  Cap- 
tain Nugent  sat  in  the  special  parlour  of 
The  Goblets.  The  old  inn  offers  hospitality  to  all, 
but  one  parlour  has  by  ancient  tradition  and  the  ex- 
ercise of  self-restraint  and  proper  feeling  been  from 
time  immemorial  reserved  for  the  elite  of  the  town. 

The  captain,  confident  in  the  security  of  these 
unwritten  regulations,  conversed  freely  with  his 
peers.  He  had  been  moved  to  speech  by  the  utter 
absence  of  discipline  ashore,  and  from  that  had 
wandered  to  the  growing  evil  of  revolutionary  ideas 
at  sea.  His  remarks  were  much  applauded,  and 
two  brother-captains  listened  with  grave  respect  to 
a  disquisition  on  the  wrongs  of  shipmasters  ensuing 
on  the  fancied  rights  of  sailor  men,  the  only  discord- 
ant note  being  struck  by  the  harbour-master,  a  man 
whose  ideas  had  probably  been  insidiously  sapped 
by  a  long  residence  ashore. 

"  A  man  before  the  mast,"  said  the  latter,  forti- 
fying his  moral  courage  with  whisky,  "  is  a  human 
being." 

48 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Nobody  denies  it,"  said  Captain  Nugent,  look- 
ing round. 

One  captain  agreed  with  him. 

<«  Why  don't  they  act  like  it,  then  ?  **  demanded 
the  other. 

Nugent  and  the  first  captain,  struck  by  the  re- 
mark, thought  they  had  perhaps  been  too  hasty  in 
their  admission,  and  waited  for  number  two  to 
continue.  They  eyed  him  with  silent  encourage- 
ment. 

"  Why  don't  they  act  like  it,  then  ? "  repeated 
number  two,  whc,  being  a  man  of  few  ideas,  was 
not  disposed  to  waste  them. 

Captain  Nugent  and  his  friend  turned  to  the  har» 
bour-master  to  see  how  he  would  meet  this  poser. 

"  They  mostly  do,"  he  replied,  sturdily.  "  Treat 
a  seaman  well,  and  he'll  treat  you  well." 

This  was  rank  heresy,  and  moreover  seemed  to 
imply  something.  Captain  Nugent  wondered  dis- 
mally whether  life  ashore  would  infect  him  with  the 
same  opinions. 

"  What  about  that  man  of  mine  who  threw  a  be- 
laying-pin  at  me  ?  " 

The  harbour-master  quailed  at  the  challenge.  The 
obvious  retort  was  offensive. 

"  I  shall  carry  the  mark  with  me  to  my  grave," 
added  the  captain,  as  a  further  inducement  to  him 
to  reply. 

49 


At  Sunwich  Port 


*'  A  divenion  was  created  by  the  entrance  of  a  new  arrivaL* 


"  I  hope  that  you'll  carry  it  a  long  time,"  said  the 
harbour-master,  gracefully. 

*'  Here,  look  here,  Hall !  "  expostulated  captain 
number  two,  starting  up. 

"  It's  all  right.  Cooper,"  said  Nugent. 

"  It's  all  right,"  said  captain  number  one,  and  in 
50 


At  Sunwich  Port 

a  rash  moment  undertook  to  explain.  In  five  minutes 
he  had  clouded  Captain  Cooper's  intellect  for  the 
afternoon. 

He  was  still  busy  with  his  self-imposed  task  when 
a  diversion  was  created  by  the  entrance  of  a  new 
arrival.  A  short,  stout  man  stood  for  a  moment 
with  the  handle  of  the  door  in  his  hand,  and  then 
came  in,  carefully  bearing  before  him  a  glass  of  gin 
and  water.  It  was  the  first  time  that  he  had  set 
foot  there,  and  all  understood  that  by  this  intrusion 
Mr.  Daniel  Kybird  sought  to  place  sea-captains  and 
other  dignitaries  on  a  footing  with  the  keepers  of 
slop-shops  and  dealers  in  old  clothes.  In  the  midst 
of  an  impressive  silence  he  set  his  glass  upon  the 
table  and,  taking  a  chair,  drew  a  small  clay  pipe  from 
his  pocket. 

Aghast  at  the  intrusion,  the  quartette  conferred  with 
their  eyes,  a  language  which  is  perhaps  only  success- 
ful in  love.  Captain  Cooper,  who  was  usually  moved 
to  speech  by  externals,  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  You've  got  a  sty  coming  on  your  eye,  Hall,"  he 
remarked. 

"  1  daresay." 

"  If  anybody's  got  a  needle "  said  the  captain, 

who  loved  minor  operations. 

Nobody  heeded  him  except  the  harbour-master, 
and  he  muttered  something  about  beams  and  motes, 
which  the  captain  failed  to  understand.     The  others 

51 


At  Sunwich  Port 

were  glaring  darkly  at  Mr.  Kybird,  who  had  taken 
up  a  newspaper  and  was  busy  perusing  it. 

"  Are  you  looking  for  anybody  ? "  demanded 
Captain  Nugent,  at  last. 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  looking  at  him  over  the 
top  of  his  paper. 

"  What  have  you  come  here  for,  then  ? "  inquired 
the  captain. 

"  I  come  'ere  to  drink  two  o'  gin  cold,"  returned 
Mr.  Kybird,  with  a  dignity  befitting  the  occupation. 

"  Well,  suj)pose  you  drink  it  somewhere  else," 
suggested  the  captain. 

Mr.  Kybird  had  another  supposition  to  offer. 
"Suppose  I  don't  ?  "  he  remarked.  "  I'm  a  respect- 
able British  tradesman,  and  my  money  is  as  good  as 
yours.  I've  as  much  right  to  be  here  as  you  'ave. 
I've  never  done  anything  I'm  ashamed  of!  " 

"  And  you  never  will,"  said  Captain  Cooper's 
friend,  grimly,  "  not  if  you  live  to  be  a  hundred." 

Mr.  Kybird  looked  surprised  at  the  tribute. 
"  Thankee,"  he  said,  gratefully. 

'*  Well,  we  don't  want  you  here,"  said  Captain 
Nugent.    "  We  prefer  your  room  to  your  company." 

Mr.  Kybird  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  twisted 
his  blunt  features  into  an  expression  of  withering 
contempt.  Then  he  took  up  a  glass  and  drank,  and 
discovered  too  late  that  in  the  excitement  of  the 
moment  he  had  made  free  with  the  speaker's  whisky. 

52 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Don't  apologize,"  interrupted  the  captain  ;  "  it's 
soon  remedied." 

He  took  the  glass  up  gingerly  and  flung  it  with  a 
crash  into  the  fireplace.     Then  he  rang  the  bell. 

"  I've  smashed  a  dirty  glass,"  he  said,  as  the  bar- 
man entered.     "  How  much  ?  " 

The  man  told  him,  and  the  captain,  after  a  few 
stern  remarks  about  privacy  and  harpies,  left  the 
room  with  his  friends,  leaving  the  speechless  Mr. 
Kybird  gazing  at  the  broken  glass  and  returning 
evasive  replies  to  the  inquiries  of  the  curious 
Charles. 

He  finished  his  gin  and  water  slowly.  For  months 
he  had  been  screwing  up  his  courage  to  carry  that 
room  by  assault,  and  this  was  the  result.  He  had 
been  insulted  almost  in  the  very  face  of  Charles,  a 
youth  whose  reputation  as  a  gossip  was  second  to 
none  in  Sunwich. 

"  Do  you  know  what  I  should  do  if  I  was  you  ?  " 
said  that  worthy,  as  he  entered  the  room  again  and 
swept  up  the  broken  glass. 

"  I  do  not,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  with  lofty  indiffer- 
ence. 

"  I  shouldn't  come  'ere  again,  that's  what  I  should 
do,"  said  Charles,  frankly.  "  Next  time  he'll  throw 
you  in  the  fireplace." 

"  Ho,"  said  the  heated  Mr.  Kybird.  "  Ho,  will 
he?     I'd  like  to  see  'im.     I'll  make  'im  sorry  for 

53 


At  Sunwich  Port 

this  afore  I've  done  with  'im.  I'll  learn  'im  to  in- 
sult a  respectable  British  tradesman.  I'll  show  him 
who's  who." 

"  What'U  you  do  ?  "  inquired  the  other. 


*'  He  stepped  across  the  road  to  his  emporium." 

•*  Never  you  mind,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  who  was 
KK>t  in  a  position  to  satisfy  his  curiosity — "  never  you 

54 


At  Sunwich  Port 

mind.  You  go  and  get  on  with  your  work,  Charles, 
and  p'r'aps  by  the  time  your  moustache  'as  grown 
big  enough  to  be  seen,  you'll  'ear  something." 

"  I  'eard  something  the  other  day,"  said  the  bar- 
man, musingly ;  "  about  you  it  was,  but  I  wouldn't 
believe  it." 

"  Wot  was  it  ?  "  demanded  the  other. 

"  Nothing  much,"  replied  Charles,  standing  with 
his  hand  on  the  door-knob,  "  but  I  wouldn't  believe 
it  of  you  ;  I  said  I  couldn't." 

"Wot — was — it?"  insisted  Mr.  Kybird. 

"  Why,  they  said  you  once  gave  a  man  a  fair  price 
for  a  pair  of  trousers,"  said  the  barman,  indignantly. 

He  closed  the  door  behind  him  softly,  and  Mr. 
Kybird,  after  a  brief  pause,  opened  it  again  and, 
more  softly  still,  quitted  the  precincts  of  The 
Goblets,  and  stepped  across  the  road  to  his  empor- 
ium. 

Captain  Nugent,  in  happy  ignorance  of  the  dark 
designs  of  the  wardrobe  dealer,  had  also  gone  home. 
He  was  only  just  beginning  to  realize  the  comparative 
unimportance  of  a  retired  shipmaster,  and  the  knowl- 
edge was  a  source  of  considerable  annoyance  to  him. 
No  deferential  mates  listened  respectfully  to  his  in- 
structions, no  sturdy  seaman  ran  to  execute  his  com- 
mands or  trembled  mutinously  at  his  wrath.  The 
only  person  in  the  wide  world  who  stood  in  awe  of 
him  was  the  general  servant  Bella,  and  she  made  no 

55 


At  Sunwich  Port 

attempt  to  conceal  her  satisfaction  at  the  attention 
excited  by  her  shortcomings. 

He  paused  a  moment  at  the  gate  and  then,  walk- 
ing slowly  up  to  the  door,  gave  it  the  knock  of  a 
master.  A  full  minute  passing,  he  knocked  again, 
remembering  with  some  misgivings  his  stern  instruc- 
tions of  the  day  before  that  the  door  was  to  be  at- 
tended by  the  servant  and  by  nobody  else.  He  had 
seen  Miss  Nugent  sitting  at  the  window  as  he  passed 
it,  but  in  the  circumstances  the  fact  gave  him  no  com- 
fort. A  third  knock  was  followed  by  a  fourth,  and 
then  a  distressed  voice  upstairs  was  heard  calling 
wildly  upon  the  name  of  Bella. 

At  the  fifth  knock  the  house  shook,  and  a  red- 
faced  maid  with  her  shoulders  veiled  in  a  large  damp 
towel  passed  hastily  down  the  staircase  and,  slipping 
the  catch,  passed  more  hastily  still  upstairs  again, 
affording  the  indignant  captain  a  glimpse  of  a  short 
striped  skirt  as  it  turned  the  landing. 

*'  Is  there  any  management  at  all  in  this  house  ?  ** 
he  inquired,  as  he  entered  the  room. 

"  Bella  was  dressing,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  calmly, 
"  and  you  gave  orders  yesterday  that  nobody  else 
was  to  open  the  door." 

"  Nobody  else  when  she's  available,"  qualified  her 
father,  eyeing  her  sharply.  "  When  I  give  orders  I 
expect  people  to  use  their  common  sense.  Why 
isn't  my  tea  ready?     It's  five  o'clock." 

S6 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  The  clock's  twenty  minutes  fast,"  said  Kate. 

**  Who's  been  meddling  with  it?  "  demanded  her 
father,  verifying  the  fact  by 'his  watch. 

Miss  Nugent  shook  her  head.  "  It's  gained  that 
since  you  regulated  it  last  night,"  she  said,  with  a 
smile. 

The  captain  threw  himself  into  an  easy-chair,  and 
with  one  eye  on  the  clock,  waited  until,  at  five  min- 
utes to  the  hour  by  the  right  time,  a  clatter  of  crock- 
ery sounded  from  the  kitchen,  and  Bella,  still  damp, 
came  in  with  the  tray.  Her  eye  was  also  on  the 
clock,  and  she  smirked  weakly  in  the  captain's  direc- 
tion as  she  saw  that  she  was  at  least  two  minutes 
ahead  of  time.  At  a  minute  to  the  hour  the  teapot 
itself  was  on  the  tray,  and  the  heavy  breathing  of  the 
handmaiden  in  the  kitchen  was  audible  to  all. 

"  Punctual  to  the  minute,  John,"  said  Mrs.  King- 
dom, as  she  took  her  seat  at  the  tray.  "  It's  won- 
derful how  that  girl  has  improved  since  you've  been 
at  home.     She  isn't  like  the  same  girl." 

She  raised  the  teapot  and,  after  pouring  out  a  little 
of  the  contents,  put  it  down  again  and  gave  it  an- 
other two  minutes.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  the 
colour  being  of  the  same  unsatisfactory  paleness,  she 
set  the  pot  down  and  was  about  to  raise  the  lid  when 
an  avalanche  burst  into  the  room  and,  emptying  some 
tea  into  the  pot  from  a  canister-lid,  beat  a  hasty  re- 
treat. 

57 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Good  tea  and  well-trained  servants,"  muttered 
the  captain  to  his  plate.  "  What  more  can  a  man 
want  ? " 

Mrs.  Kingdom  coughed  and  passed  his  cup  ;  Miss 
Nugent,  who  possessed  a  healthy  appetite,  serenely 
attacked  her  bread  and  butter ;  conversation  lan- 
guished. 

"  I  suppose  you've  heard  the  news,  John  ?  "  said 
his  sister. 

"  I  daresay  I  have,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Strange  he  should  come  back  after  all  these 
years,"  said  Mrs.  Kingdom  ;  "  though,  to  be  sure,  I 
don't  know  why  he  shouldn't.  It's  his  native  place, 
and  his  father  lives  here." 

"  Who  are  you  talking  about  ?  "  inquired  the  cap- 
tain. 

"  Why,  James  Hardy,"  replied  his  sister.  "  I 
thought  you  said  you  had  heard.  He's  coming 
back  to  Sunwich  and  going  into  partnership  with  old 
Swann,  the  shipbroker.  A  very  good  thing  for  him, 
I  should  think." 

"I'm  not  interested  in  the  doings  of  the  Hardys," 
said  the  captain,  gruffly. 

"  I'm  sure  I'm  not,"  said  his  sister,  defensively. 

Captain  Nugent  proceeded  with  his  meal  in  si- 
lence. His  hatred  of  Hardy  had  not  been  lessened 
by  the  success  which  had  attended  that  gentleman's 
career,  and  was  not  likely  to  be  improved  by  the 

58 


At  Sunwich  Port 

well-being  of  Hardy  junior.  He  passed  his  cup  for 
some  more  tea,  and,  with  a  furtive  glance  at  the 
photograph  on  the  mantelpiece,  wondered  what  had 
happened  to  his  own  son. 

"  I  don't  suppose  I  should  know  him  if  I  saw 
him,"  continued  Mrs.  Kingdom,  addressing  a  re- 
spectable old  arm-chair ;  "  London  is  sure  to  have 
changed  him." 

"  Is  this  water-cress  ?  "  inquired  the  captain,  look- 
ing up  from  his  plate. 

"  Yes.     Why  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Kingdom. 

*'  I  only  wanted  information,"  said  her  brother,  as 
he  deposited  the  salad  in  question  in  the  slop-basin. 

Mrs.  Kingdom,  with  a  resigned  expression,  tried 
to  catch  her  niece's  eye  and  caught  the  captain's  in- 
stead. Miss  Nugent  happening  to  glance  up  saw 
her  fascinated  by  the  basilisk  glare  of  the  master  of 
the  house. 

"  Some  more  tea,  please,"  she  said. 

Her  aunt  took  her  cup,  and  in  gratitude  for  the 
diversion  picked  out  the  largest  lumps  of  sugar  in 
the  basin. 

"  London  changes  so  many  people,"  mused  the 
persevering  lady,  stirring  her  tea.  "  I've  noticed  it 
before.  Why  it  is  I  can't  say,  but  the  fact  remains. 
It  seems  to  improve  them  altogether.  I  dare  say 
that  young  Hardy " 

"  Will  you  understand  that  I  won't  have  the 
59 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Hardys  mentiond  in  my  house  ?  "  said  the  captain, 
looking  up.  "  I'm  not  interested  in  their  business, 
and  I  will  not  have  it  discussed  here." 

"  As  you  please,  John,"  said  his  sister,  drawing 
herself  up.  "  It's  your  house  and  you  are  master 
here.  I'm  sure  I  don't  want  to  discuss  them. 
Nothing  was  farther  from  my  thoughts.  You  un- 
derstand what  your  father  says,  Kate  ?  " 

"  Perfectly,"  said  Miss  Nugent.  "  When  the 
desire  to  talk  about  the  Hardys  becomes  irresistible 
we  must  go  for  a  walk." 

The  captain  turned  in  his  chair  and  regarded  his 
daughter  steadily.  She  met  his  gaze  with  calm 
affection. 

"  I  wish  you  were  a  boy,"  he  growled. 

"  You're  the  only  man  in  Sunwich  who  wishes 
that,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  complacently,  "  and  I  don't 
believe  you  mean  it.  If  you'll  come  a  little  closer 
I'll  put  my  head  on  your  shoulder  and  convert  you." 

"  Kate  1  "  said  Mrs.  Kingdom,  reprovingly. 

"  And,  talking  about  heads,"  said  Miss  Nugent, 
briskly,  "  reminds  me  that  I  want  a  new  hat.  You 
needn't  look  like  that ;  good-looking  daughters  al- 
ways come  expensive." 

She  moved  her  chair  a  couple  of  inches  in  his  di- 
rection and  smiled  alluringly.  The  captain  shifted 
uneasily;  prudence  counselled  flight,  but  dignity  for- 
bade it.     He  stared  hard  at  Mrs.  Kingdom,  and  a 

60 


At  Sunwich  Port 

smile  of  rare  appreciation  on  that  lady's  face  endeav- 
oured to  fade  slowly  and  naturally  into  another  ex- 
pression.    The  chair  came  nearer. 

**  Don't  be  foolish,"  said  the  captain,  gruffly. 


**  *Mo8t  comfortable  sho'jider  In  Sunwich,'  she  murmond.** 

The  chair  came  still  nearer  until  at  last  it  touched 
his,  and  then  Miss  Nugent,  with  a  sigh  of  exagger- 

6. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ated  content,  allowed  her  head  to  sink  gracefully  on 
his  shoulder. 

"  Most  comfortable  shoulder  in  Sunwich,"  she 
murmured ;  "  come  and  try  the  other,  aunt,  and 
perhaps  you'll  get  a  new  bonnet." 

Mrs.  Kingdom  hastened  to  reassure  her  brother. 
She  would  almost  as  soon  have  thought  of  putting 
her  head  on  the  block.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
quite  evident  that  she  was  taking  a  mild  joy  in  his 
discomfiture  and  eagerly  awaiting  further  develop- 
ments. 

"  When  you  are  tired  of  this  childish  behaviour, 
miss,"  said  the  captain,  stiffly 

There  was  a  pause.  "  Kate  !  "  said  Mrs.  King- 
dom, in  tones  of  mild  reproof,  "  how  can  you  ?  " 

"  Very  good,"  said  the  captain,  "  we'll  see  who 
gets  tired  of  it  first.     I'm  in  no  hurry." 

A  delicate  but  unmistakable  snore  rose  from  his 
shoulder  in  reply. 


69 


CHAPTER    VI 

FOR  the  first  few  days  after  his  return  Sunwich 
was  full  of  surprises  to  Jem  Hardy.  The 
town  itself  had  changed  but  little,  and  the 
older  inhabitants  were  for  the  most  part  easily  recog- 
nisable, but  time  had  wrought  wonders  among  the 
younger  members  of  the  population  :  small  boys 
had  attained  to  whiskered  manhood,  and  small  girls 
passing  into  well-grown  young  women  had  in  some 
cases  even  changed  their  names. 

The  most  astounding  and  gratifying  instance  of 
the  wonders  effected  by  time  was  that  of  Miss  Nu- 
gent. He  saw  her  first  at  the  window,  and  with  a 
ready  recognition  of  the  enchantment  lent  by  dis- 
tance took  the  first  possible  opportunity  of  a  closer 
observation.  He  then  realized  the  enchantment  af- 
forded by  proximity.  The  second  opportunity  led 
him  impetuously  into  a  draper's  shop,  where  a  mag- 
nificent shop-walker,  after  first  ceremoniously  hand- 
ing him  a  high  cane  chair,  passed  on  his  order  for 
pins  in  a  deep  and  thrilling  baritone,  and  retired  in 
good  order. 

By  the  end  of  a  week  his  observations  were  com- 

63 


At  Sunwich  Port 

pleted,  and  Kate  Nugent,  securely  enthroned  in 
his  mind  as  the  incarnation  of  feminine  grace  and 
beauty,  left  but  little  room  for  other  matters.  On 
his  second  Sunday  at  home,  to  his  father's  great 
surprise,  he  attended  church,  and  after  contempla- 
ting Miss  Nugent's  back  hair  for  an  hour  and  a  half 
came  home  and  spoke  eloquently  and  nobly  on 
"burying  hatchets,"  "healing  old  sores,"  "  letting 
bygones  be  bygones,"  and  kindred  topics. 

"  I  never  take  much  notice  of  sermons  myself," 
said  the  captain,  misunderstanding. 

"  Sermon  ?  "  said  his  son.  "  I  wasn't  thinking 
of  the  sermon,  but  I  saw  Captain  Nugent  there,  and 
I  remembered  the  stupid  quarrel  between  you.  it's 
absurd  that  it  should  go  on  indefinitely." 

"  Why,  what  does  it  matter?  "  inquired  the  other, 
staring.  "  Why  shouldn't  it  ?  Perhaps  it's  the 
music  that's  affected  you ;  some  of  those  old 
hymns " 

"  It  wasn't  the  sermon  and  it  wasn't  the  hymns," 
said  his  son,  disdainfully  ;  "  it's  just  common  sense. 
It  seems  to  me  that  the  enmity  between  you  has 
lasted  long  enough." 

"  I  don't  see  that  it  matters,"  said  the  captain  ; 
"it  doesn't  hurt  me.  Nugent  goes  his  way  and  I 
go  mine,  but  if  I  ever  get  a  chance  at  the  old  man, 
he'd  better  look  out.  He  wants  a  little  of  the  starch 
taken  out  of  him." 

64 


At  Sunwich  Port 


*•  Mere  mannerism,"  said  his  son. 

"  He's  as  proud  as  Lucifer,  and  his  girl  takes  after 
him,"  said  the  innocent  captain.  "  By  the  way,  she's 
grown  up  a  very  good- 
looking  girl.  You 
take  a  look  at  her  the 
next  time  you  see 
her." 

His  son  stared  at 
him. 

"  She'll  get  married 
soon,  I  should  think," 
continued  the  other. 
"  Young  Murchison, 
the  new  doctor  here, 
seems  to  be  the  fa- 
vourite. Nugent  is 
backing  him,  so  they 
say ;  I  wish  him  joy 
of  his  father-in-law." 

Jem  Hardy  took 
his  pipe  into  the  gar- 
den, and,  pacing  slow- 
ly up  and  down  the 
narrow  paths,  deter- 
mined, at  any  costs, 
to  save  Dr.  Murchison  from  such  a  father-in-law 
and  Kate  Nugent  from  any  husband  except  of  his 

65 


"The  most  astounding  and  gratifying  in- 
stance of  the  wonders  effected  by  time 
was  that  of  Miss  Nugent." 


At  Sunwich  Port 

choosing.  He  took  a  seat  under  an  old  apple  tree, 
and,  musing  in  the  twilight,  tried  in  vain  to  think 
of  ways  and  means  of  making  her  acquamtance. 

Meantime  they  passed  each  other  as  strangers, 
and  the  difficulty  of  approaching  her  only  made  the 
task  more  alluring.  In  the  second  week  he  reck- 
oned up  that  he  had  seen  her  nine  times.  It  was  a 
satisfactory  total,  but  at  the  same  time  he  could  not 
shut  his  eyes  to  the  fact  that  five  times  out  of  that 
number  he  had  seen  Dr.  Murchison  as  well,  and 
neither  of  them  appeared  to  have  seen  him. 

He  sat  thinking  it  over  in  the  office  one  hot  after- 
noon. Mr.  Adolphus  Swann,  his  partner,  had  just 
returned  from  lunch,  and  for  about  the  fifth  time 
that  day  was  arranging  his  white  hair  and  short, 
neatly  pK)inted  beard  in  a  small  looking-glass.  Over 
the  top  of  it  he  glanced  at  Hardy,  who,  leaning  back 
in  his  chair,  bit  his  pen  and  stared  hard  at  a  paper 
before  him. 

"  Is  that  the  manifest  of  the  North  Star?  "  he 
inquired. 

"  No,"  was  the  reply. 

Mr.  Swann  put  his  looking-glass  away  and  watched 
the  other  as  he  crossed  over  to  the  window  and  gazed 
through  the  small,  dirty  panes  at  the  bustling  life 
of  the  harbour  below.  For  a  short  time  Hardy 
stood  gazmg  in  silence,  and  then,  suddenly  crossing 
the  room,  took  his  hat  from  a  peg  and  went  out, 

66 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Restless,"  said  the  senior  partner,  wiping  his 
folders  with  great  care  and  putting  them  on.  "  Won- 
der where  he's  put  that  manifest." 

He  went  over  to  the  other's  desk  and  opened  a 
drawer  to  search  for  it.  Just  inside  was  a  sheet  of 
foolscap,  and  Mr.  Swann  with  growing  astonishment 
slowly  mastered  the  contents. 

"  See  her  as  often  as  possible." 

"  Get  to  know  some  of  her  friends." 

"  Try  and  get  hold  of  the  old  lady." 

"  Find  out  her  tastes  and  ideas." 

"  Show  my  hand  before  Murchison  has  it  all  his 
own  way." 

"It  seems  to  me,"  said  the  bewildered  shipbroker, 
carefully  replacing  the  paper,  "  that  my  young  friend 
is  looking  out  for  another  partner.  He  hasn't  lost 
much  time." 

He  went  back  to  his  seat  and  resumed  his  work. 
It  occurred  to  him  that  he  ought  to  let  his  partner 
know  what  he  had  seen,  and  when  Hardy  returned 
he  had  barely  seated  himself  before  Mr.  Swann  with 
a  mysterious  smile  crossed  over  to  him,  bearing  a 
sheet  of  foolscap. 

"  Try  and  dress  as  well  as  my  partner,"  read  the 
astonished  Hardy.  "  What's  the  matter  with  my 
clothes?     What  do  you  mean?" 

Mr.  Swann,  in  place  of  answering,  returned  to  his 
desk  and,  taking  up  another  sheet  of  foolscap,  began 

67 


At  Sunwich  Port 

to  write  again,  holding  up  his  hand  for  silence  as 
Hardy  repeated  his  question.     When  he  had  iin- 


**Mr   Swann  with  growing  astonishment  slowly  mastered  the  contents." 

ished  his  task  he  brought  it  over  and  placed  it  in 
the  other's  hand. 

"  Take  her  little  brother  out  for  walks/' 

68 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Hardy  crumpled  the  paper  up  and  flung  it  aside. 
Then,  with  his  face  crimson,  he  stared  wrathfully  at 
the  benevolent  Swann. 

"  It's  the  safest  card  in  the  pack,"  said  the  latter. 
"  You  please  everybody;  especially  the  little  brother. 
You  should  always  hold  his  hand — it  looks  well  for 
one  thing,  and  if  you  shut  your  eyes " 

"  I  don't  want  any  of  your  nonsense,"  said  the 
maddened  Jem.  "  What  do  you  mean  by  reading 
my  private  papers  ?  " 

"  I  cam.e  over  to  look  for  the  manifest,"  said  Mr. 
Swann,  "  and  I  read  it  before  I  could  make  out 
what  it  was.  You  must  admit  it's  a  bit  cryptic.  I 
thought  it  was  a  new  game  at  first.  Getting  hold 
of  the  old  lady  sounds  like  a  sort  of  blind-man's 
buff.  But  why  not  get  hold  of  the  young  one? 
Why  waste  time  over " 

**  Go  to  the  devil,"  said  the  junior  partner. 

**  Any  more  suggestions  I  can  give  you,  you  are 
heartily  welcome  to,"  said  Mr.  Swann,  going  back 
to  his  seat.  "All  my  vast  experience  is  at  your 
service,  and  the  best  and  sweetest  and  prettiest  girls 
in  Sunwich  regard  me  as  a  sort  of  second  father." 

"  What's  a  second  father?  "  inquired  Jim,  look- 
ing up — "  a  grandfather  ?  " 

"  Go  your  own  way,"  said  the  other ;  "  I  wash 
my  hands  of  you.  You're  not  in  earnest,  or  you'd 
clutch  at  any  straw.     But  let  me  give  you  one  word 

69 


At  Sunwich  Port 

of  advice.  Be  careful  how  you  get  hold  of  the  old 
lady ;  let  her  understand  from  the  commencement 
that  it  isn't  her." 

Mr.  Hardy  went  on  with  his  work.  There  was 
a  pile  of  it  in  front  of  him  and  an  accumulation  in 
his  drawers.  For  some  time  he  wrote  assiduously, 
but  work  was  dry  after  the  subject  they  had  been 
discussing.  He  looked  over  at  his  partner  and, 
seeing  that  that  gentleman  was  gravely  busy,  re- 
opened the  matter  with  a  jeer. 

"  Old  maids  always  know  most  about  rearing  chil- 
dren," he  remarked  ;  "  so  I  suppose  old  bachelors, 
looking  down  on  life  from  the  top  shelf,  think  they 
know  most  about  marriage." 

"  I  wash  my  hands  of  you,"  repeated  the  senior, 
placidly.  "  I  am  not  to  be  taunted  into  rendering 
first  aid  to  the  wounded." 

The  conscience-stricken  junior  lost  his  presence 
of  mind.  "  Who's  trying  to  taunt  you  ?  "  he  de- 
manded, hotly.  "  Why,  you'd  do  more  harm  than 
good." 

"  Put  a  bandage  round  the  head  instead  of  the 
heart,  I  expect,"  assented  the  chuckling  Swann. 
"  Top  shelf,  I  think  you  said ;  well,  I  climbed  there 
for  safety." 

"  You  must  have  been  much  run  after,"  said  his 
partner. 

"  I  was,"  said  the  other.  "  I  suppose  that's  why 
70 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ft  is  I  am  always  so  interested  in  these  affairs.  I 
have  helped  to  marry  so  many  people  in  this  place, 
that  I'm  almost  afraid  to  stir  out  after  dark." 

Hardy's  reply  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
Mr.  Edward  Silk,  a  young  man  of  forlorn  aspect, 
who  combined  in  his  person  the  offices  of  messenger, 
cleaner,  and  office-boy  to  the  firm.  He  brought  in 
some  letters,  and  placing  them  on  Mr.  Swann's  desk 
retired. 

"  There's  another,"  said  the  latter,  as  the  door 
closed.  "  His  complaint  is  Amelia  Kybird,  and 
he's  got  it  badly.  She's  big  enough  to  eat  him,  but 
I  believe  that  they  are  engaged.  Perseverance  has 
done  it  in  his  case.  He  used  to  go  about  like  a 
blighted  flower " 

"  I  am  rather  busy,"  his  partner  reminded  him. 

Mr.  Swann  sighed  and  resumed  his  own  labours. 
For  some  time  both  men  wrote  in  silence.  Then 
the  elder  suddenly  put  his  pen  down  and  hit  his 
desk  a  noisy  thump  with  his  fist. 

"  I've  got  it,"  he  said,  briskly ;  "  apologize 
humbly  for  all  your  candour,  and  I  will  give  you  a 
piece  of  information  which  shall  brighten  your  dull 
eyes,  raise  the  corners  of  your  drooping  mouth,  and 
renew  once  more  the  pink  and  cream  in  your  youth- 
ful cheeks." 

"  Look  here — "  said  the  overwrought  Hardy. 

"  Samson     Wilks,"    interrupted     Mr.     Swann, 

71 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"number  three,  Fullalove  Alley,  at  home  Fridays, 
seven  to  nine,  to  the  daughter  of  his  late  skipper, 
who  always  visits  him  on  that  day.  Don't  thank 
me.  Hardy,  in  case  you  break  down.  She's  a  very 
nice  girl,  and  if  she  had  been  born  twenty  years 
earlier,  or  I  had  been  born  twenty  years  later,  or 
you  hadn't  been  born  at  all,  there's  no  saying  what 
might  not  have  happened." 

"  When  I  want  you  to  interfere  in  my  business," 
said  Hardy,  working  sedulously,  "  I'll  let  you 
know." 

"  Very  good,"  replied  Swann ;  "  still,  remember 
Thursdays,  seven  to  nine." 

"  Thursdays,"  said  Hardy,  incautiously ;  **  why, 
you  said  Fridays  just  now." 

Mr.  Swann  made  no  reply.  His  nose  was  im- 
mersed in  the  folds  of  a  large  handkerchief,  and  his 
eyes  watered  profusely  behind  his  glasses.  It  was 
some  minutes  before  he  had  regained  his  normal  com- 
posure, and  even  then  the  sensitive  nerves  of  his  part- 
ner were  offended  by  an  occasional  belated  chuckle. 

Although  by  dint  of  casual  and  cautious  inquiries 
Mr.  Hardy  found  that  his  partner's  information  was 
correct,  he  was  by  no  means  guilty  of  any  feelings  of 
gratitude  towards  him  ;  and  he  only  glared  scorn- 
fully when  that  excellent  but  frivolous  man  mounted 
a  chair  on  Friday  afternoon,  and  puttmg  the  clock  on 
a  couple  of  hours  or  so,  urged  him  to  be  m  time. 

7a 


At  Sunwich  Port 

The  evening,  however,  found  him  starting  slowly 
in  the  direction  of  Fullalove  Alley.  His  father  had 
gone  to  sea  again,  and  the  house  was  very  dull ; 
moreover,  he  felt  a  mild  curiosity  to  see  the  changes 
wrought  by  time  in  Mr.  Wilks.  He  walked  along 
by  the  sea,  and  as  the  church  clock  struck  the  three- 
quarters  turned  into  the  alley  and  looked  eagerly 
round  for  the  old  steward. 

The  labours  of  the  day  were  over,  and  the  in- 
habitants were  for  the  most  part  out  of  doors  taking 
the  air.  Shirt-sleeved  householders,  leaning  against 
their  door-posts  smoking,  exchanged  ideas  across 
the  narrow  space  paved  with  cobble-stones  which 
separated  their  small  and  ancient  houses,  while  the 
matrons,  more  gregariously  inclined,  bunched  in  little 
groups  and  discussed  subjects  which  in  higher  circles 
would  have  inundated  the  land  with  libel  actions.  Up 
and  down  the  alley  a  tiny  boy  all  ready  for  bed,  with 
the  exception  of  his  nightgown,  mechanically  avoided 
friendly  palms  as  he  sought  anxiously  for  his  mother. 

The  object  of  Mr.  Hardy's  search  sat  at  the  door 
of  his  front  room,  which  opened  on  to  the  alley,  smok- 
ing an  evening  pipe,  and  noting  with  an  interested 
eye  the  doings  of  his  neighbours.  He  was  just  pre- 
paring to  draw  himself  up  in  his  chair  as  the  intruder 
passed,  when  to  his  utter  astonishment  that  gentle- 
man stopped  in  front  of  him,  and  taking  possession 
of  his  hand  shook  it  fervently. 

73 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  How  do  you  do  ?  "  he  said,  smiling. 

Mr.  Wilks  eyed  him  stupidly  and,  releasing  his 
hand,  coyly  placed  it  in  his  trouser-pocket  and 
breathed  hard. 

"  I  meant  to  come  before,"  said  Hardy, "  but  I've 
been  so  busy.     How  are  you  ?  " 

Mr.  Wilks,  still  dazed,  muttered  that  he  was  very 
well.  Then  he  sat  bolt  upright  in  his  chair  and  eyed 
his  visitor  suspiciously. 

"  I've  been  longing  for  a  chat  with  you  about  old 
times,"  said  Hardy  ;  "  of  all  my  old  friends  you 
seem  to  have  changed  the  least.  You  don't  look  a 
day  older." 

"  I'm  getting  on,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  trying  to  speak 
coldly,  but  observing  with  some  gratification  the 
effect  produced  upon  his  neighbours  by  the  appear- 
ance of  this  well-dressed  acquaintance. 

"  I  wanted  to  ask  your  advice,"  said  the  unscru- 
pulous Hardy,  speaking  in  low  tones.  "  I  daresay 
you  know  I've  just  gone  into  partnership  in  Sun- 
wich, and  I'm  told  there's  no  man  knows  more 
about  the  business  and  the  ins  and  outs  of  this  town 
than  you  do." 

Mr.  Wilks  thawed  despite  himself  His  face 
glistened  and  his  huge  mouth  broke  into  tremulous 
smiles.  For  a  moment  he  hesitated,  and  then  notic- 
ing that  a  little  group  near  them  had  suspended 
their  conversation  to  listen  to  his  he  drew  his  chair 

74 


At  Sunwich  Port 

back  and,  in  a  kind  voice,  invited  the  searcher  after 
wisdom  to  step  inside. 

Hardy  thanked  him,  and,  following  him  in,  took 


FuUalovc   Alley.'* 


a  chair  behind  the  door,  and  with  an  air  of  youthful 
deference  bent  his  ear  to  catch  the  pearls  which  fell 

75 


At  Sunwich  Port 

from  the  lips  of  his  host.  Since  he  was  a  babe  on 
his  mother's  knee  sixty  years  before  Mr.  Wilks  had 
never  had  such  an  attentive  and  admiring  Hstener. 
Hardy  sat  as  though  glued  to  his  chair,  one  eye  on 
Mr.  Wilks  and  the  other  on  the  clock,  and  it  was 
not  until  that  ancient  timepiece  struck  the  hour  that 
the  ex-steward  suddenly  realized  the  awkward  state 
of  affairs. 

"  Any  more  'elp  I  can  give  you  I  shall  always  be 
pleased  to,"  he  said,  looking  at  the  clock. 

Hardy  thanked  him  at  great  length,  wondering, 
as  he  spoke,  whether  Miss  Nugent  was  of  punctual 
habits.  He  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and,  folding 
his  arms,  gazed  thoughtfully  at  the  perturbed  Mr. 
Wilks. 

"  You  must  come  round  and  smoke  a  pipe  with 
me  sometimes,"  he  said,  casually. 

Mr.  Wilks  flushed  with  gratified  pride.  He  had 
a  vision  of  himself  walking  up  to  the  front  door  of 
the  Hardys,  smoking  a  pipe  in  a  well-appointed 
room,  and  telling  an  incredulous  and  envious  Fulla- 
love  Alley  about  it  afterwards. 

"  I  shall  be  very  pleased,  sir,"  he  said,  impres- 
sively. 

"  Come  round  on  Tuesday,"  said  his  visitor.  "  I 
shall  be  at  home  then." 

Mr.  Wilks  thanked  him  and,  spurred  on  to  hos- 
pitality, murmured  something  about  a  glass  of  ale, 

76 


At  Sunwich  Port 

and  retired  to  the  back  to  draw  it.  He  came  back 
with  a  jug  and  a  couple  of  glasses,  and  draining  his 
own  at  a  draught,  hoped  that  the  example  would  not 
be  lost  upon  his  visitor.  That  astute  person,  how- 
ever, after  a  modest  draught,  sat  still,  anchored  to 
the  half-empty  glass. 

"  I'm  expecting  somebody  to-night,"  said  the  ex- 
steward,  at  last. 

**  No  doubt  you  have  a  lot  of  visitors,"  said  the 
other,  admiringly. 

Mr.  Wilks  did  not  deny  it.  He  eyed  his  guest's 
glass  and  fidgeted. 

"  Miss  Nugent  is  coming,"  he  said. 

Instead  of  any  signs  of  disorder  and  preparations 
for  rapid  flight,  Mr.  Wilks  saw  that  the  other  was 
quite  composed.  He  began  to  entertain  a  poor  idea 
of  Mr.  Hardy's  memory. 

"  She  generally  comes  for  a  little  quiet  chat,"  he 
said. 

"  Indeed  ! " 

"  Just  between  the  two  of  us,"  said  the  other. 

His  visitor  said  "  Indeed,"  and,  as  though  some 
chord  of  memory  had  been  touched,  sat  gazing 
dreamily  at  Mr.  Wilks's  horticultural  collection  in 
the  window.  Then  he  changed  colour  a  little  as  a 
smart  hat  and  a  pretty  face  crossed  the  tiny  panes. 
Mr.  Wilks  changed  colour  too,  and  in  an  awkward 
fashion  rose  to  receive  Miss  Nugent. 

77 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Late  as  usual,  Sam,"  said  the  girl,  sinking  into 
a  chair.  Then  she  caught  sight  of  Hardy,  who  was 
standing  by  the  door. 


"She  caught  right  of  Hardy." 

"  It's  a  long  time  since  you  and  I  met.  Miss  Nu- 
gent," he  said,  bowing. 

78 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Mr.  Hardy?"  said  the  girl,  doubtfully. 

"  Yes,  miss,"  interposed  Mr.  Wilks,  anxious  to 
explain  his  position.  "  He  called  in  to  see  me ; 
quite  a  surprise  to  me  it  was.     I  'ardly  knowed  him." 

"  The  last  time  we  three  met,"  said  Hardy,  who 
to  his  host's  discomfort  had  resumed  his  chair, 
"  Wilks  was  thrashing  me  and  you  were  urging 
him  on." 

Kate  Nugent  eyed  him  carefully.  It  was  pre- 
posterous that  this  young  man  should  take  advan- 
tage of  a  boy  and  girl  acquaintance  of  eleven  years 
before — and  such  an  acquaintance  ! — in  this  manner. 
Her  eyes  expressed  a  little  surprise,  not  unmixed 
with  hauteur,  but  Hardy  was  too  pleased  to  have 
them  turned  in  his  direction  at  all  to  quarrel  with 
their  expression. 

"  You  were  a  bit  of  a  trial  in  them  days,"  said  Mr. 
Wilks,  shaking  his  head.  "  If  I  live  to  be  ninety 
I  shall  never  forget  seeing  Miss  Kate  capsized  the 
way  she  was.     The  way  she " 

"  How  is  your  cold  ?  "  inquired  Miss  Nugent, 
hastily. 

"  Better,  miss,  thankee,"  said  Mr.  Wilks. 

"  Miss  Nugent  has  forgotten  and  forgiven  all  that 
long  ago,"  said  Hardy. 

"  Quite,"  assented  the  girl,  coldly  ;  "  one  cannot 
remember  all  the  boys  and  girls  one  knew  as  a  child." 

"  Certainly  not,"  said  Hardy.     "  I  find  that  many 

7Q 


At  Sunwich  Port 

have  slipped  from  my  own  memory,  but  I  have  a 
most  vivid  recollection  of  you." 

Miss  Nugent  looked  at  him  again,  and  an  idea, 
strange  and  incredible,  dawned  slowly  upon  her. 
Childish  impressions  are  lasting,  and  Jem  Hardy 
had  remained  in  her  mind  as  a  sort  of  youthful  ogre. 
He  sat  before  her  now  a  frank,  determined-looking 
young  Englishman,  in  whose  honest  eyes  admiration 
of  herself  could  not  be  concealed.  Indignation  and 
surprise  struggled  for  supremacy. 

"It's  odd,"  remarked  Mr.  Wilks,  who  had  a  happy 
knack  at  times  of  saying  the  wrong  thing,  "  it's  odd 
yau  should  'aye  'appened  to  come  just  at  the  same 
time  as  Miss  Kate  did." 

"  It's  my  good  fortune,"  said  Hardy,  with  a  slight 
bow.  Then  he  cocked  a  malignant  eye  at  the  inno- 
cent Mr.  Wilks,  and  wondered  at  what  age  men 
discarded  the  useless  habit  of  blushing.  Opposite 
him  sat  Miss  Nugent,  calmly  observant,  the  slight- 
est suggestion  of  disdain  in  her  expression.  Framed 
in  the  queer,  high-backed  old  chair  which  had  be- 
longed to  Mr.  Wilks's  grandfather,  she  made  a  pict- 
ure at  which  Jem  Hardy  continued  to  gaze  with 
respectful  ardour.  A  hopeless  sense  of  self-depre- 
ciation possessed  him,  but  the  idea  that  Murchison 
should  aspire  to  so  much  goodness  and  beauty  made 
him  almost  despair  of  his  sex.  His  reverie  was 
broken  by  the  voice  of  Mr.  Wilks. 

So 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  A  quarter  to  eight  ?  "  said  that  gentleman  in- 
credulously ;  "  it  can't  be." 

"  I  thought  it  was  later  than  that,"  said  Hardy, 
simply. 

Mr.  Wilks  gasped,  and  with  a  faint  shake  of  his 
head  at  the  floor  abandoned  the  thankless  task  of 
giving  hints  to  a  young  man  who  was  too  obtuse  to 
see  them  ;  and  it  was  not  until  some  time  later  that 
Mr.  Hardy,  sorely  against  his  inclinations,  gave  his 
host  a  hearty  handshake  and,  with  a  respectful  bow 
to  Miss  Nugent,  took  his  departure, 

"  Fine  young  man  he's  growed,"  said  Mr.  Wilks, 
deferentially,  turning  to  his  remaining  visitor ; 
"  greatly  improved,  I  think." 

Miss  Nugent  looked  him  over  critically  before 
replying.  "He  seems  to  have  taken  a  great  fancy 
to  you,"  she  remarked. 

Mr.  Wilks  smiled  a  satisfied  smile.  "  He  came 
to  ask  my  advice  about  business,"  he  said,  softly. 
"  He's  'card  two  or  three  speak  o'  me  as  knowing  a 
thing  or  two,  and  being  young,  and  just  starting,  'e 
came  to  talk  it  over  with  me.  I  never  see  a  young 
man  so  pleased  and  ready  to  take  advice  as  wot 
he  is." 

"He  is  coming  again  for  more,  I  suppose  ?  "  said 
Miss  Nugent,  carelessly. 

Mr.  Wilks  acquiesced.  "  And  he  asked  me  to 
go  over  to  his  'ouse  to  smoke  a  pipe  with  *im  on 

3i 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Tuesday,"  he  added,  in  the  casual  manner  in  which 
men  allude  to  their  aristocratic  connections.  "  He's 
a  bit  lonely,  all  by  himself." 

Miss  Nugent  said,  "  Indeed,"  and  then,  lapsing 
into  silence,  gave  little  occasional  side-glances  at  Mr. 
"Wilks,  as  though  in  search  of  any  hidden  charms 
about  him  which  might  hitherto  have  escaped  her. 

At  the  same  time  Mr.  James  Hardy,  walking 
slowly  home  by  the  edge  of  the  sea,  pondered  on 
further  ways  and  means  of  ensnaring  the  affection* 
of  the  ex-steward. 


«9 


CHAPTER   VII 

THE  anticipations  of  Mr.  Wilks  were  more 
than  realized  on  the  following  Tuesday. 
From  the  time  a  trim  maid  showed  him 
into  the  smoking-room  until  late  at  night,  when  he 
left,  a  feted  and  honoured  guest,  with  one  of  his 
host's  best  cigars  between  his  teeth,  nothing  that 
could  yield  him  any  comfort  was  left  undone.  In 
the  easiest  of  easy  chairs  he  sat  in  the  garden  beneath 
the  leafy  branches  of  apple  trees,  and  undiluted 
wisdom  and  advice  flowed  from  his  lips  in  a  stream 
as  he  beamed  delightedly  upon  his  entertainer. 

Their  talk  was  mainly  of  Sunwich  and  Sunwich 
people,  and  it  was  an  easy  step  from  these  to  Equa- 
tor Lodge.  On  that  subject  most  people  would 
have  found  the  ex-steward  somewhat  garrulous,  but 
Jem  Hardy  listened  with  great  content,  and  even 
brought  him  back  to  it  when  he  showed  signs  of 
wandering.  Altogether  Mr.  Wilks  spent  one  of 
the  pleasantest  evenings  of  his  life,  and,  returning 
home  in  a  slight  state  of  mental  exhilaration,  severely 
exercised  the  tongues  of  Fullalove  Alley  by  a  bear- 
ing considered  incompatible  with  his  station, 

83 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Jem  Hardy  paid  a  return  call  on  the  following 
Friday,  and  had  no  cause  to  complain  of  any  lack 


"Undiluted  wisdom  and  advice  flowed  from  hii  Upt." 

of  warmth  in  his   reception.     The   ex-steward  was 
delighted  to  see  him,  and  after  'showing  him  various 

M 


At  Sunwich  Port 

curios  picked  up  during  his  voyages,  took  him  to 
the  small  yard  in  the  rear  festooned  with  scarlet- 
runner  beans,  and  gave  him  a  chair  in  full  view  of 
the  neighbours. 

"I'm  the  only  visitor  to-night?"  said  Hardy, 
after  an  hour's  patient  listening  and  waiting. 

Mr.  Wilks  nodded  casually.  "  Miss  Kate  came 
last  night,"  he  said.  "  Friday  is  her  night,  but  she 
came  yesterday  instead." 

Mr.  Hardy  said,  "  Oh,  indeed,"  and  fell  straight- 
way into  a  dismal  reverie  from  which  the  most  spir- 
ited efforts  of  his  host  only  partially  aroused  him. 

Without  giving  way  to  undue  egotism  it  was  pretty 
clear  that  Miss  Nugent  had  changed  her  plans  on  his 
account,  and  a  long  vista  of  pleasant  Friday  evenings 
suddenly  vanished.  He,  too,  resolved  to  vary  his 
visits,  and,  starting  with  a  basis  of  two  a  week,  sat  try- 
ing to  solve  the  mathematical  chances  of  selecting  the 
same  as  Kate  Nugent ;  calculations  which  were  not 
facilitated  by  a  long-winded  account  from  Mr.  Wilks 
of  certain  interesting  amours  of  his  youthful  prime. 

Before  he  saw  Kate  Nugent  again,  however,  an- 
other old  acquaintance  turned  up  safe  and  sound  in 
Sunwich.  Captain  Nugent  walking  into  the  town 
saw  him  first :  a  tall,  well-knit  young  man  in  shabby 
clothing,  whose  bearing  even  in  the  distance  was 
oddly  familiar.  As  he  came  closer  the  captain's  mis- 
givings were  confirmed,  and  in  the  sunburnt  fellow 

85 


At  Sunwich  Port 

in  tattered  clothes  who  advanced  upon  him  with  out- 
stretched hand  he  reluctantly  recognized  his  son. 

"What  have  you  come  home  for?  "  he  inquired, 
ignoring  the  hand  and  eyeing  him  from  head  to  foot. 

"  Change,"  said  Jack  Nugent,  laconically,  as  the 
smile  left  his  face. 

The  captain  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  stood 
silent.  His  son  looked  first  up  the  road  and  then 
down. 

"  All  well  at  home  ? "  he  inquired. 

"Yes." 

Jack  Nugent  looked  up  the  road  again. 

"  Not  much  change  in  the  town,"  he  said,  at  length 

"  No,"  said  his  father. 

"  Well,  I'm  glad  to  have  seen  you,"  said  his  son. 
«  Good-bye." 

"  Good-bye,"  said  the  captain. 

His  son  nodded  and,  turning  on  his  heel,  walked 
back  towards  the  town.  Despite  his  forlorn  appear- 
ance his  step  was  jaunty  and  he  carried  his  head  high. 
The  captain  watched  him  until  he  was  hidden  by  a 
bend  in  the  road,  and  then,  ashamed  of  himself  for 
displaying  so  much  emotion,  turned  his  own  steps  in 
the  direction  of  home. 

"  Well,  he  didn't  whine,"  he  said,  slowly.  "  He's 
got  a  bit  of  pride  left." 

Meantime  the  prodigal  had  reached  the  town 
again,  and  stood  ruefully  considering  his  position. 

86 


At  Sunwich  Port 

He  looked  up  the  street,  and  then,  the  well-known 
shop  of  Mr.  Kybird  catching  his  eye,  walked  over 
and  inspected  the  contents  of  the  window.  Sheath- 
knives,  belts,  tobacco-boxes,  and  watches  were  dis- 
played alluringly  behind  the  glass,  sheltered  from  the 
sun  by  a  row  of  cheap  clothing  dangling  from  short 
poles  over  the  shop  front.  All  the  goods  were 
marked  in  plain  figures  in  reduced  circumstances,  Mr. 
Kybird  giving  a  soaring  imagination  play  in  the  first 
marking,  and  a  good  business  faculty  in  the  second. 

At  these  valuables  Jack  Nugent,  with  a  view  of 
obtaining  some  idea  of  prices,  gazed  for  some  time. 
Then  passing  between  two  suits  of  oilskins  which 
stood  as  sentinels  in  the  doorway,  he  entered  the 
shop  and  smiled  affably  at  Miss  Kybird,  who  was  in 
charge.  At  his  entrance  she  put  down  a  piece  of 
fancy-work,  which  Mr.  Kybird  called  his  sock,  and 
with  a  casual  glance  at  his  clothes  regarded  him  with 
a  prejudiced  eye. 

"  Beautiful  day,"  said  the  customer ;  "  makes  one 
feel  quite  young  again."  * 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  inquired  Miss  Kybird. 

Mr.  Nugent  turned  to  a  broken  cane-chair  which 
stood  by  the  counter,  and,  after  applying  severe  tests, 
regardless  of  the  lady's  feelings,  sat  down  upon  it  and 
gave  a  sigh  of  relief 

"  I've  walked  from  London,"  he  said,  in  explana- 
tion.    "  I  could  sit  here  for  hours," 

87 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  Look   here "    began    the   indignant    Miss 

Kybird. 

"  Only  people  would  be  sure  to  couple  our  names 
together,"    continued     Mr.     Nugent,    mournfully. 


**  *  What  do  you  want  ?'  inquired  Miss  Kybird. '*^ 


**  When  a  handsome  young  man  and  a  good-look- 
ing girl^ " 

"  Do  you  Want  to  buy  anything  or  not  ? "  de- 
manded Miss  Kybird,  with  an  impatient  toss  of  her 
head. 

"  No,"  said  Jack,  "  I  want  to  sell/* 
88 


At  Sunvvich  Port 

"  You've  come  to  the  wrong  shop,  then,"  said  Miss 
Kybird  ;  "  the  warehouse  is  full  of  rubbish  now." 

The  other  turned  in  his  chair  and  looked  hard  at 
the  window.  "  So  it  is,"  he  assented.  "  It's  a  good 
job  I've  brought  you  something  decent  to  put  there." 

He  felt  in  his  pockets  and,  producing  a  silver- 
mounted  briar-pipe,  a  battered  watch,  a  knife,  and  a 
few  other  small  articles,  deposited  them  with  rever- 
ent care  upon  the  counter. 

"  No  use  to  us,"  declared  Miss  Kybird,  anxious 
to  hit  back ;  "  we  burn  coal  here." 

"  These'll  burn  better  than  the  coal  you  buy," 
said  the  unmoved  customer. 

"  Well,  we  don't  want  them,"  retorted  Miss  Ky- 
bird, raising  her  voice,  "and  I  don't  want  any  of 
your  impudence.     Get  up  out  of  our  chair." 

Her  heightened  tones  penetrated  to  the  small  and 
untidy  room  behind  the  shop.  The  door  opened, 
and  Mr.  Kybird  in  his  shirt-sleeves  appeared  at  the 
opening. 

"  Wot's  the  row  ?  "  he  demanded,  his  little  black 
eyes  glancing  from  one  to  the  other. 

"  Only  a  lovers'  quarrel,"  replied  Jack.  "  You 
go  away  ;  we  don't  want  you." 

"  Look  'ere,  we  don't  want  none  o'  your  non- 
sense," said  the  shopkeeper,  sharply ;  "  and,  wot's 
more,  we  won't  'ave  it.  Who  put  that  rubbish  on 
my  counter  ? " 

«9 


At  Sunwich  Port 

He  bustled  forward,  and  taking  the  articles  in  his 
hands  examined  them  closely. 

"  Three  shillings  for  the  lot — cash,"  he  remarked. 

"  Done,"  said  the  other. 

"  Did  I  say  three  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Kybird,  startled 
at  this  ready  acceptance. 

"  Five  you  said,"  replied  Mr.  Nugent,  "  but  I'll 
take  three,  if  you  throw  in  a  smile." 

Mr.  Kybird,  much  against  his  inclinations,  threw 
in  a  faint  grin,  and  opening  a  drawer  produced  three 
shillings  and  flung  them  separately  on  the  counter. 
Miss  Kybird  thawed  somewhat,  and  glancing  from 
the  customer's  clothes  to  his  face  saw  that  he  had  a 
pleasant  eye  and  a  good  moustache,  together  with 
a  general  air  of  recklessness  much  appreciated  by 
the  sex. 

"  Don't  spend  it  on  drink,"  she  remarked,  not 
unkindly. 

"  I  won't,"  said  the  other,  solemnly ;  "I'm  going 
to  buy  house  property  with  it." 

"  Why,  darn  my  eyes,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  who  had 
been  regarding  him  closely ;  "  darn  my  old  eyes,  if 
it  ain't  young  Nugent.     Well,  well !  " 

"  That's  me,"  said  young  Nugent,  cheerfully  ;  "  I 
should  have  known  you  anywhere,  Kybird :  same 
old  face,  same  old  voice,  same  old  shirt-sleeves." 

"  'Ere,  come  now,"  objected  the  shopkeeper, 
shortening  his  arm  and  squinting  along  it. 

90 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  I  should  have  known  you  anywhere,"  continued 
the  other,  mournfully ;  "  and  here  I've  thrown  up 
a  splendid  berth  and  come  all  the  way  from  Aus- 
tralia just  for  one  glimpse  of  Miss  Kybird,  and  she 
doesn't  know  me.  When  I  die,  Kybird,  you  will 
find  the  word  *  Calais '  engraven  upon  my  heart." 

Mr.  Kybird  said,  "  Oh,  indeed."  His  daughter 
tossed  her  head  and  bade  Mr.  Nugent  take  his  non- 
sense to  people  who  might  like  it. 

"  Last  time  I  see  you,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  pursing 
up  his  lips  and  gazing  at  the  counter  in  an  effort  of 
memory ;  "  last  time  I  see  you  was  one  fifth  o'  No- 
vember when  you  an'  another  bright  young  party 
was  going  about  in  two  suits  o'  oilskins  wot  I'd  been 
'unting  for  'igh  and  low  all  day  long." 

Jack  Nugent  sighed.  "  They  were  happy  times, 
Kybird." 

"  Might  ha'  been  for  you,"  retorted  the  other, 
his  temper  rising  a  little  at  the  remembrance  of  his 
wrongs. 

"Have  you  come  home  for  good?"  inquired 
Miss  Kybird,  curiously.  "  Have  you  seen  your 
father  ?     He  passed  here  a  little  while  ago." 

"  I  saw  him,"  said  Jack,  with  a  brevity  which  was 
not  lost  upon  the  astute  Mr.  Kybird.  "  I  may  stay 
in  Sunwich,  and  I  may  not — it  all  depends." 

"  You're  not  going  'ome  ?  "  said  Mr.  Kybird. 

«  No." 

91 


At  Sunwich  Port 

The  shopkeeper  stood  considering.  He  had  a 
small  room  to  let  at  the  top  of  his  house,  and  he 
stood  divided  between  the  fear  of  not  getting  his 
rent  and  the  joy  to  a  man  fond  of  simple  pleasures, 
to  be  obtained  by  dunning  the  arrogant  Captain  Nu- 
gent for  his  son's  debts.  Before  he  could  arrive  at 
a  decision  his  meditations  were  interrupted  by  the 
entrance  of  a  stout,  sandy-haired  lady  from  the  back 
parlour,  who,  having  conquered  his  scruples  against 
matrimony  some  thirty  years  before,  had  kept  a  par- 
ticularly wide-awake  eye  upon  him  ever  since. 

"Your  tea's  a-gettin'  cold,"  she  remarked, severely. 

Her  husband  received  the  news  with  calmness. 
He  was  by  no  means  an  enthusiast  where  that  liquid, 
was  concerned,  the  admiration  evoked  by  its  non- 
inebriating  qualities  having  been  always  something 
in  the  nature  of  a  mystery  to  him. 

"I'm  coming,"  he  retorted;  "I'm  just  'aving  a 
word  with  Mr.  Nugent  'ere." 

"  Well,  I  never  did,"  said  the  stout  lady,  coming 
farther  into  the  shop  and  regarding  the  visitor,  "  I 
shouldn't  'ave  knowed  'im.  If  you'd  asked  me 
who  'e  was  I  couldn't  ha'  told  you — I  shouldn't 
'ave  knowed  'im  from  Adam." 

Jack  shook  his  head.  "  It's  hard  to  be  forgotten 
like  this,"  he  said,  sadly.  "  Even  Miss  Kybird  had 
forgotten  me,  after  all  that  had  passed  between  us." 

"Eh?"  said  Mr.  Kybird. 
92 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Oh,  don't  take  any  notice  of  him,"  said  his 
daughter.     "  I'd  like  to  see  myself." 

Mr.  Kybird  paid  no  heed.  He  was  still  thinking 
of  the  son  of  Captain  Nugent  being  indebted  to  him 
for  lodging,  and  the  more  he  thought  of  the  idea  the 
better  he  liked  it. 

"  Well,  now  you're  *ere,"  he  said,  with  a  great  as- 
sumption of  cordiality, "  why  not  come  in  and  'ave  a 
cup  o'  tea  ?  " 

The  other  hesitated  a  moment  and  then,  with  a 
light  laugh,  accepted  the  offer.  He  followed  them 
into  the  small  and  untidy  back  parlour,  and  being 
requested  by  his  hostess  to  squeeze  in  next  to  'Melia 
at  the  small  round  table,  complied  so  literally  with 
the  order  that  that  young  lady  complained  bitterly 
of  his  encroachments. 

"  And  where  do  you  think  of  sleeping  to-night  ?  " 
inquired  Mr.  Kybird  after  his  daughter  had,  to  use 
her  own  expressive  phrase,  shown  the  guest  "  his 
place." 

Mr.  Nugent  shook  his  head.  "  I  shall  get  a 
lodging  somewhere,"  he  said,  airily. 

"  There's  a  room  upstairs  as  you  might  'ave  if 
you  liked,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  slowly.  "  It's  been 
let  to  a  very  respectable,  clean  young  man  for  half 
a  crown  a  week.  Really  it  ought  to  be  three  shil- 
lings, but  if  you  like  to  'ave  it  at  the  old  price,  you 
can." 

93 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Done  with  you,"  said  the  other. 

"  No  doubt  you'll  soon  get  something  to  do,** 
continued  Mr.  Kybird,  more  in  answer  to  his  wife's 
inquiring  glances  than  anything  else.  "  Half  a 
crown  every  Saturday  and  the  room's  yours." 

Mr.  Nugent  thanked  him,  and  after  making  a 
tea  which  caused  Mr.  Kybird  to  congratulate  him- 
self upon  the  fact  that  he  hadn't  offered  to  board 
him,  sat  regaling  Mrs.  Kybird  and  daughter  with  a 
recital  of  his  adventures  in  Australia,  receiving  in 
return  a  full  and  true  account  of  Sunwich  and  its 
people  up  to  date. 

"  There's  no  pride  about  'im,  that's  what  I  like," 
said  Mrs.  Kybird  to  her  lord  and  master  as  they  sat 
-alone  after  closing  time  over  a  glass  of  gin  and  water. 
"  He's  a  nice  young  feller,  but  bisness  is  bisness, 
and  s'pose  you  don't  get  your  rent  r  " 

"  1  shall  get  it  sooner  or  later,"  said  Mr.  Kybird. 
^*  That  stuck-up  father  of  'is  '11  be  in  a  fine  way  at 
'im  living  here.     That's  wot  I'm  thinking  of." 

"  I  don't  see  why,"  said  Mrs.  Kybird,  bridling. 
"Who's  Captain  Nugent,  I  should  like  to  know? 
We're  as  good  as  what  'e  is,  if  not  better.  And  as 
for  the  gell,  if  she'd  got  *alf  Amelia's  looks  she'd 
<io." 

"  'Melia's  a  fine-looking  gal,"  assented  Mr.  Ky- 
bird.    "  I  wonder " 

He  laid  his  pipe  down  on  the  table  and  stared  at 
94 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  mantelpiece.     "  He  seems  very  struck  with  'er,* 
he  concluded.     "  I  see  that  directly." 

"  Not  afore  I  did,"  said  his  wife,  sharply. 

"  See  it  afore  you  come  into  the  shop,"  said  Mr, 


'  He  regarded  the  wife  of  hu  boioin  with  a  calculating  glance.* 


Kybird,  triumphantly.     "  It  *ud  be  a  strange  thing 
to  marry  into  that  family,  Emma." 

"  She's  keeping  company  with  young  Teddy  Silk,'* 
his  wife  reminded  him,  coldly ;  "  and  if  she  wasn't 

9S 


At  Sunwich  Port 

she  could  do  better  than  a  young  man  without  a 
penny  in  'is  pocket.  Pride's  a  fine  thing,  Dan'l, 
but  you  can't  live  on  it." 

"  I  know  what  I'm  talking  about,"  said  Mr.  Ky- 
bird,  impatiently.  "  I  know  she's  keeping  company 
with  Teddy  as  well  as  wot  you  do.  Still,  as  far  as 
money  goes,  young  Nugent  '11  be  all  right." 

"  'Ow  ?  "  inquired  his  wife. 

Mr.  Kybird  hesitated  and  took  a  sip  of  his  gin 
and  water.  Then  he  regarded  the  wife  of  his  bosom 
with  a  calculating  glance  which  at  once  excited  that 
lady's  easily  kindled  wrath. 

"  You  know  I  never  tell  secrets,"  she  cried. 

"  Not  often,"  corrected  Mr.  Kybird,  "  but  then 
I  don't  often  tell  you  any.  Wot  would  you  say  to 
young  Nugent  coming  into  five  'undred  pounds  'is 
mother  left  'im  when  he's  twenty-five  ?  He  don't 
know  it,  but  I  do." 

"  Five  'undred,"  repeated  his  wife,  "sure?  " 

"  No,"  said  the  other,  "  I'm  not  sure,  but  I  know. 
I  *ad  it  from  young  Roberts  when  'e  was  at  Stone 
and  Dartnell's.  Five  'undred  pounds !  I  shall  get 
my  money  all  right  some  time,  and,  if  'e  wants  a  lit- 
tle bit  to  go  on  with,  'e  can  have  it.  He's  honest 
enough ;  I  can  see  that  by  his  manner." 

Upstairs  in  the  tiny  room  under  the  tiles  Mr. 
Jack  Nugent,  in  blissful  ignorance  of  his  landlord's 
generous  sentiments  towards  him,  slept  the  sound, 

96 


At  Sunwich  Port 

dreamless  sleep  of  the  man  free  from  monetary  cares. 
In  the  sanctity  of  her  chamber  Miss  Kybird,  gazing 
approvingly  at  the  reflection  of  her  yellow  hair  and 
fine  eyes  in  the  little  cracked  looking-glass,  was  al- 
ready comparing  him  very  favourably  with  the  some* 
what  pessimistic  Mr.  Silk. 


^/ 


CHAPTER    VIII 

MR.  NUGENT'S  return  caused  a  sensation 
in  several  quarters,  the  feeling  at  Equator 
Lodge  bordering  close  upon  open  mutiny. 
Even  Mrs.  Kingdom  plucked  up  spirit  and  read  the 
astonished  captain  a  homily  upon  the  first  duties  of 
a  parent — a  homily  which  she  backed  up  by  reading 
the  story  of  the  Prodigal  Son  through  to  the  bitter 
end.  At  the  conclusion  she  broke  down  entirely 
and  was  led  up  to  bed  by  Kate  and  Bella,  the  sym- 
pathy of  the  latter  taking  an  acute  form,  and  con- 
sisting mainly  of  innuendoes  which  could  only  refer 
to  one  person  in  the  house. 

Kate  Nugent,  who  was  not  prone  to  tears,  took  a 
different  line,  but  with  no  better  success.  The  captain 
declined  to  discuss  the  subject,  and,  after  listening  to  a 
description  of  himself  in  which  Nero  and  other  celeb- 
rities figured  for  the  purpose  of  having  their  charac- 
ters whitewashed,  took  up  his  hat  and  went  out. 

Jem  Hardy  heard  of  the  new  arrival  from  his  part- 
ner, and,  ignoring  that  gentleman's  urgent  advice  to 
make  hay  while  the  sun  shone  and  take  Master  Nu- 
gent for  a  walk  forthwith,  sat  thoughtfully  consider- 

98 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ing  how  to  turn  the  affair  to  the  best  advantage.  A 
slight  outbreak  of  diphtheria  at  FuUalove  Alley  had, 
for  a  time,  closed  that  thoroughfare  to  Miss  Nugent, 
and  he  was  inclined  to  regard  the  opportune  arrival  of 
her  brother  as  an  effort  of  Providence  on  his  behalf. 

For  some  days,  however,  he  looked  for  Jack  Nu- 
gent in  vain,  that  gentleman  either  being  out  of  doors 
engaged  in  an  earnest  search  for  work,  or  snugly 
seated  in  the  back  parlour  of  the  Kybirds,  indulging 
in  the  somewhat  perilous  pastime  of  paying  compli- 
ments to  Amelia  Kybird.  Remittances  which  had 
reached  him  from  his  sister  and  aunt  had  been 
promptly  returned,  and  he  was  indebted  to  the 
amiable  Mr.  Kybird  for  the  bare  necessaries  of  life. 
In  these  circumstances  a  warm  feeling  of  gratitude 
towards  the  family  closed  his  eyes  to  their  obvious 
shortcomings. 

He  even  obtained  work  down  at  the  harbour 
through  a  friend  of  Mr.  Kybird's.  It  was  not  of  a 
very  exalted  nature,  and  caused  more  strain  upon  the 
back  than  the  intellect,  but  seven  years  of  roughing 
it  had  left  him  singularly  free  from  caste  prejudices, 
a  freedom  which  he  soon  discovered  was  not  shared 
by  his  old  acquaintances  at  Sunwich.  The  discovery 
made  him  somewhat  bitter,  and  when  Hardy  stopped 
him  one  afternoon  as  he  was  on  his  way  home  from 
work  he  tried  to  ignore  his  outstretched  hand  and 
continued  on  his  way. 

99 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  It  is  a  long  time  since  we  met,"  said  Hardy, 
placing  himself  in  front  of  him. 

"Good  heavens,"  said  Jack,  regarding  him  closely, 
"  it's  Jemmy  Hardy — ^grown  up  spick  and  span  like 


"  He  even  obtained  work  down  at  the  harbour." 

the  industrious  little  boys  in  the  school-books.     I 
heard  you  were  back  here." 

*'  I  came  back  just  before  you  did,"  said  Hardy. 

**  Brass  band  playing  you    in   and  all  that   sort 

lOO 


At  Sunwich  Port 

of  thing,  I  suppose,"  said  the  other.  "  Alas,  how  the 
wicked  prosper — and  you  were  wicked.  Do  you 
remember  how  you  used  to  knock  me  about  ? " 

"  Come  round  to  my  place  and  have  a  chat,"  said 
Hardy. 

Jack  shook  his  head.  "  They're  expecting  me  in 
to  tea,"  he  said,  with  a  nod  in  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Kybird's,  "  and  honest  waterside  labourers  who  earn 
their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  brow — when  the 
foreman  is  looking — do  not  frequent  the  society  of 
the  upper  classes." 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,"  said  Hardy,  poHtely. 

"Well,  I'm  not  very  tidy,"  retorted  Mr.  Nu- 
gent, glancing  at  his  clothes.  "  I  don't  mind  it 
myself;  I'm  a  philosopher,  and  nothing  hurts  me 
so  long  as  I  have  enough  to  eat  and  drink  ;  but  I 
don't  inflict  myself  on  my  friends,  and  I  must  say 
most  of  them  meet  me  more  than  half-way." 

"  Imagination,"  said  Hardy. 

"  All  except  Kate  and  my  aunt,"  said  Jack,  firmly. 
"  Poor  Kate ;  I  tried  to  cut  her  the  other  day."     • 

"  Cut  her  ?  "  echoed  Hardy. 

Nugent  nodded.  "  To  save  her  feelings,"  he 
replied  ;  "  but  she  wouldn't  be  cut,  bless  her,  and 
on  the  distinct  understanding  that  it  wasn't  to  form 
a  precedent,  I  let  her  kiss  me  behind  a  waggon. 
Do  you  know,  I  fancy  she's  grown  up  rather  good- 
looking,  Jem  ?  " 

lOI 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  You  are  observant,"  said  Mr.  Hardy,  admir- 
ingly. 

"  Of  course,  it  may  be  my  partiality,"  said  Mr. 
Nugent,  with  judicial  fairness.  "  I  was  always  a 
bit  fond  of  Kate.  I  don't  suppose  anybody  else 
would  see  anything  in  her.  Where  are  you  living 
now  r 

"  Fort  Road,"  said  Hardy  ;  "  come  round  any 
evening  you  can,  if  you  won't  come  now." 

Nugent  promised,  and,  catching  sight  of  Miss 
Kybird  standing  in  the  doorway  of  the  shop,  bade 
him  good-bye  and  crossed  the  road.  It  was  becom- 
ing quite  a  regular  thing  for  her  to  wait  and  have 
her  tea  with  him  now,  an  arrangement  which  was 
provocative  of  many  sly  remarks  on  the  part  of 
Mrs.  Kybird. 

"  Thought  you  were  never  coming,"  said  Miss 
Kybird,  tartly,  as  she  led  the  way  to  the  back  room 
and  took  her  seat  at  the  untidy  tea-tray. 

"And  you've  been  crying  your  eyes  out,  I  sup- 
pose," remarked  Mr.  Nugent,  as  he  groped  in  the 
depths  of  a  tall  jar  for  black-currant  jam.  "  Well, 
you're  not  the  first,  and  I  don't  suppose  you'll  be 
the  last.     How's  Teddy?" 

"  Get  your  tea,"  retorted  Miss  Kybird,  "  and 
don't  make  that  scraping  noise  on  the  bottom  of 
the  jar  with  your  knife.     It  puts  my  teeth  on  edge." 

"  So  it  does  mine,"  said  Mr.  Nugent,  "  but  there's 
19a 


At  Sunwich  Port 

t  black  currant  down  there,  and  I  mean  to  have  iL 
•  Waste  not,  want  not.* " 


••  Miss  Kybird  standing  in  the  doorway  of  the  shop.** 

"  Make    him  put  that  knife  down,"  said   Miss 
Kybird,  as  her  mother  entered  the  room. 

Mrs.  Kybird  shook  her  head  at  him.     "  You  two 
103 


At  Sunwich  Port 

are  always  quarrelling,"  she  said,  archly,  "just  like 
a  couple  of — couple  of " 

"  Love-birds,"  suggested  Mr.  Nugent. 

Mrs.  Kybird  in  great  glee  squeezed  round  to 
him  and  smote  him  playfully  with  her  large,  fat 
hand,  and  then,  being  somewhat  out  of  breath  with 
the  exertion,  sat  down  to  enjoy  the  jest  in  comrort. 

"  That's  how  you  encourage  him,"  said  her  daugh- 
ter ;  "  no  wonder  he  doesn't  behave.  No  wonder 
he  acts  as  if  the  whole  place  belongs  to  him." 

The  remark  was  certainly  descriptive  of  Mr.  Nu- 
gent's  behaviour.  His  easy  assurance  and  affability 
had  already  made  him  a  prime  favourite  with  Mrs. 
Kybird,  and  had  not  been  without  its  effect  upon 
her  daughter.  The  constrained  and  severe  com- 
pany manners  of  Mr.  Edward  Silk  showed  up  but 
poorly  beside  those  of  the  paying  guest,  and  Miss 
Kybird  had  on  several  occasions  drawn  comparisons 
which  would  have  rendered  both  gentlemen  uneasy 
if  they  had  known  of  them. 

Mr.  Nugent  carried  the  same  easy  good-fellowship 
with  him  the  following  week  when,  neatly  attired  in 
a  second-hand  suit  from  Mr.  Kybird's  extSiisive 
stock,  he  paid  a  visit  to  Jem  Hardy  to  talk  over 
old  times  and  discuss  the  future. 

"  You  ought  to  make  friends  with  your  father,** 
said  the  latter  ;  "  it  only  wants  a  little  common  sense 
and  mutual  forbearance." 

i«4 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  That's  all,"  said  Nugent ;  "sounds  easy  enough, 
doesn't  it  ?  No,  all  he  wants  is  for  me  to  clear  out 
of  Sunwich,  and  I'm  not  going  to — until  it  pleases 
me,  at  any  rate.  It's  poison  to  him  for  me  to  be 
living  at  the  Ky birds'  and  pushing  a  trolley  down 
on  the  quay.  Talk  about  love  sweetening  toil,  that 
does." 

Hardy  changed  the  subject,  and  Nugent,  nothing 
loath,  discoursed  on  his  wanderings  and  took  him  on 
a  personally  conducted  tour  through  the  continent 
of  Australia.  "  And  I've  come  back  to  lay  my 
bones  in  Sunwich  Churchyard,"  he  concluded,  pa- 
thetically ;  "  that  is,  when  I've  done  with  *em." 

"A  lot  of  things'U  happen  before  then,"  said 
Hardy. 

"  I  hope  so,"  rejoined  Mr.  Nugent,  piously  ;  "my 
desire  is  to  be  buried  by  my  weeping  great-grand- 
children. In  fact,  I've  left  instructions  to  that  effect 
in  my  will — all  I  have  left,  by  the  way." 

"  You're  not  going  to  keep  on  at  this  water-side 
work,  I  suppose  ?  "  said  Hardy,  making  another 
effort  to  give  the  conversation  a  serious  turn. 

"  The  foreman  doesn't  think  so,"  replied  the 
other,  as  he  helped  himself  to  some  whisky  ;  "  he 
has  made  several  remarks  to  that  effect  lately." 

He  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  smoked  thought- 
fully, by  no  means  insensible  to  the  comfort  of  his 
surroundings.     He  had  not  been  in  such  comfort- 

105 


At  Sunwich  Port 

able  quarters  since  he  left  home  seven  years  before. 
He  thought  of  the  untidy  litter  of  the  Kybirds'  back 
parlour,  with  the  forlorn  view  of  the  yard  in  the  rear. 
Something  of  his  reflections  he  confided  to  Hardy  as 
he  rose  to  leave. 

"  But  my  market  value  is  about  a  pound  a  week/' 
he  concluded,  ruefully,  "  so  I  must  cut  my  coat  to 
suit  my  cloth.     Good-night." 

He  walked  home  somewhat  soberly  at  first,  but 
the  air  was  cool  and  fresh  and  a  glorious  moon  was 
riding  in  the  sky.  He  whistled  cheerfully,  and  his 
spirits  rose  as  various  chimerical  plans  of  making 
money  occurred  to  him.  By  the  time  he  reached 
the  High  Street,  the  shops  of  which  were  all  closed 
for  the  night,  he  was  earning  five  hundred  a  year  and 
spending  a  thousand.  He  turned  the  handle  of  the 
door  and,  walking  in,  discovered  Miss  Kybird  enter- 
taining company  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Edward  Silk. 

"  Halloa,"  he  said,  airily,  as  he  took  a  seat. 
"  Don't  mind  me,  young  people.  Go  on  just  as 
you  would  if  I  were  not  here." 

Mr.  Edward  Silk  grumbled  something  under  his 
breath  ;  Miss  Kybird,  turning  to  the  intruder  with 
a  smile  of  welcome,  remarked  that  she  had  just 
thought  of  going  to  sleep. 

"  Going  to  sleep  ?  "  repeated  Mr.  Silk,  thunder- 
struck. 

"  Yes,"  said  Miss  Kybird,  yawning. 
1 06 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Mr.  Silk  gazed  at  her,  open-mouthed.  "  What, 
with  me  'ere  ? "  he  inquired,  in  trembling  tones. 

"  You're  not  very  lively  company,"  said  Miss 
Kybird,  bending  over  her  sewing.  "  I  don't  think 
you've  spoken  a  word  for  the  last  quarter  of  an 
hour,  and  before  that  you  were  talking  of  death- 
warnings.     Made  my  flesh  creep,  you  did." 

"  Shame  !  "  said  Mr.  Nugent. 

"  You  didn't  say  anything  to  me  about  your  flesh 
creeping,"  muttered  Mr.  Silk. 

"  You  ought  to  have  seen  it  creep,"  interposed 
Mr.  Nugent,  severely. 

"  I'm  not  talking  to  you,"  said  Mr.  Silk,  turning  on 
him  ;  "  when  I  want  the  favour  of  remarks  from  you 
I'll  let  you  know." 

"  Don't  you  talk  to  my  gentlemen  friends  like 
that,  Teddy,"  said  Miss  Kybird,  sharply,  "  because 
I  won't  have  it.  Why  don't  you  try  and  be  bright 
and  cheerful  like  Mr.  Nugent  ?  " 

Mr.  Silk  turned  and  regarded  that  gentleman 
steadfastly ;  Mr.  Nugent  meeting  his  gaze  with  a 
pleasant  smile  and  a  low-voiced  ofl^er  to  give  him 
lessons  at  half  a  crown  an  hour. 

"  I  wouldn't  be  like  'im  for  worlds,"  said  Mr. 
Silk,  with  a  scornful  laugh.  "  I'd  sooner  be  like 
anybody." 

"  What  have  you  been  saying  to  him  ?  "  Inquired 
Nugent. 

107 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Nothing,"  replied  Miss  Kybird ;  "  he's  often 
like  that.  He's  got  a  nasty,  miserable,  jealous  dis- 
position.    Not  that  I  mind  what  he  thinks." 

Mr.  Silk  breathed  hard  and  looked  from  one  to 
the  other. 

"  Perhaps  he'll  grow  out  of  it,"  said  Nugent, 
hopefully.    "  Cheer  up,  Teddy.    You're  young  yet." 

"  Might  I  arsk,"  said  the  solemnly  enraged  Mr. 
Silk,  "  might  I  arsk  you  not  to  be  so  free  with  my 
Christian  name  ? " 

"  He  doesn't  like  his  name  now,"  said  Nugent, 
drawing  his  chair  closer  to  Miss  Kybird's,  "  and  I 
don't  wonder  at  it.  What  shall  we  call  him  ?  Job  ? 
What's  that  work  you're  doing  ?  Why  don't  you  get 
on  with  that  fancy  waistcoat  you  are  doing  for  me  ?  " 

Before  Miss  Kybird  could  deny  all  knowledge  of 
the  article  in  question  her  sorely  tried  swain  created 
a  diversion  by  rising.  To  that  simple  act  he  im- 
parted an  emphasis  which  commanded  the  attention 
of  both  beholders,  and,  drawing  over  to  Miss  Ky- 
bird, he  stood  over  her  in  an  attitude  at  once  terri- 
fying and  reproachful. 

"  Take  your  choice,  Amelia,"  he  said,  in  a  thrill- 
ing voice.     "  Me  or  'im — which  is  it  to  be  r' " 

"  Here,  steady,  old  man,"  cried  the  startled  Nu- 
gent.    "  Go  easy." 

"  Me  or  'im  ? "  repeated  Mr.  Silk,  in  stern  but 
broken  accents. 

x68 


At  Sunwich  f^oit 

Miss  Kybird  giggled  and,  avoiding  his  gaze, 
looked  pensively  at  the  faded  hearthrug. 

"You're  making  her  blush,"  said  Mr.  Nugent, 
sternly.     "  Sit  down,  Teddy  ;   I'm  ashamed  of  you. 


"  Me  or  'im — which  is  it  to  be  ? ' 


We're  both  ashamed  of  you.     You're  confusing  us 
dreadfully  proposing  to  us  both  in  this  way." 

Mr.  Silk  regarded  him  with  a  scornful  eye,  but 
Miss  Kybird,  bidding  him  not  to  be  foolish,  punc- 
tuated her  remarks  with  the  needle,  and  a  struggle, 
which  Mr.  Silk  regarded  as  unseemly  in  the  highest 
degree,  took  place  between  them  for  its  possession, 

109^ 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Mr.  Nugent  secured  it  at  last,  and  brandishing  it 
fiercely  extorted  feminine  screams  from  Miss  'Ky- 
bird  by  threatening  her  with  it.  Nor  was  her  mind 
relieved  until  Mr.  Nugent,  remarking  that  he  would 
put  it  back  in  the  pincushion,  placed  it  in  the  leg  of 
Mr.  Edward  Silk. 

Mr.  Kybird  and  his  wife,  entering  through  the 
shop,  were  just  in  time  to  witness  a  spirited  perform- 
ance on  the  part  of  Mr.  Silk,  the  cherished  pur- 
pose of  which  was  to  deprive  them  of  a  lodger. 
He  drew  back  as  they  entered  and,  raising  his 
voice  above  Miss  Kybird's,  began  to  explain  his 
action. 

"Teddy,  I'm  ashamed  of  you,"  said  Mr.  Kybird, 
shaking  his  head.  "  A  little  joke  like  that ;  a  little 
innercent  joke." 

"  If  it  'ad  been  a  darning-needle  now "  began 

Mrs.  kybird. 

"  All  right,"  said  the  desperate  Mr.  Silk,  "  'ave  it 
your  own  way.  Let  'Melia  marry  'im — I  don't  care 
— I  give  'er  up." 

"  Teddy  1 "  said  Mr.  Kybird,  in  a  shocked  voice. 
«  Teddy ! " 

Mr.  Silk  thrust  him  fiercely  to  one  side  and  passed 
raging  through  the  shop.  The  sound  of  articles  fall- 
ing in  all  directions  attested  to  his  blind  haste,  and 
the  force  with  which  he  slammed  the  shop-door  was 
sufiicient  evidence  of  his  state  of  mind. 

no 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Well,  upon  my  word,"  said  the  staring  Mr.  Ky- 
bird  ;  "  of  all  the  outrageyous " 

"  Never  mind  'im,"  said  his  wife,  who  was  sitting 
in  the  easy  chair,  distributing  affectionate  smiles  be- 
tween her  daughter  and  the  startled  Mr.  Nugent. 
"  Make  'er  happy.  Jack,  that's  all  I  arsk.  She's 
been  a  good  gal,  and  she'll  make  a  good  wife.  I've 
seen  how  it  was  between  you  for  some  time." 

"  So  'ave  I,"  said  Mr.  Kybird.  He  shook  hands 
warmly  with  Mr.  Nugent,  and,  patting  that  per- 
turbed man  on  the  back,  surveyed  him  with  eyes 
glistening  with  approval. 

"  It's  a  bit  rough  on  Teddy,  isn't  it?"  inquired 
Mr.  Nugent,  anxiously  ;  "  besides " 

"  Don't  you  worry  about  'im,"  said  Mr.  Kybird, 
affectionately.     "  He  ain't  worth  it." 

"  I  wasn't,"  said  Mr.  Nugent,  truthfully.  The 
situation  had  developed  so  rapidly  that  it  had  caught 
him  at  a  disadvantage.  He  had  a  dim  feeHng  that, 
having  been  the  cause  of  Miss  Kybird's  losing  one 
young  man,  the  most  elementary  notions  of  chivalry- 
demanded  that  he  should  furnish  her  with  another. 
And  this  idea  was  clearly  uppermost  in  the  minds 
of  her  parents.  He  looked  over'at  Amelia  and  with 
characteristic  philosophy  accepted  the  position. 

"  We  shall  be  the  handsomest  couple  in  Sunwich,** 
he  said,  simply. 

"  Bar  none,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  emphatically. 

XII 


At  Sunwich  Port 

The  stout  lady  in  the  chair  gazed  at  the  couple 
fondly.     "  It  reminds  me  of  our  wedding,"  she  said- 


•'  I  wonder  what  the  governor'll  say." 


softly.     "What  was  it  Tom  Fletcher  said,  father? 
Can  you  remember  ?  " 


lit 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  'Arry  Smith,  you  mean,"  corrected  Mr.  Kybird. 

"Tom  Fletcher  said  something,  I'm  sure,"  per- 
sisted his  wife. 

"He  did"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  grimly,  "and  I 
pretty  near  broke  *is  'ead  for  it.  *Arry  Smith  is  the 
one  you're  thinking  of." 

Mrs.  Kybird  after  a  moment's  reflection,  admitted 
that  he  was  right,  and,  the  chain  of  memory  being 
touched,  waxed  discursive  about  her  own  wedding 
and  the  somewhat  exciting  details  which  accompaniedj 
it.  After  which  she  produced  a  bottle  labelled 
"  Port  wine  "  from  the  cupboard,  and,  filling  four 
glasses,  celebrated  the  occasion  in  a  befitting  but; 
sober  fashion* 

"  This,"  said  Mr.  Nugent,  as  he  sat  on  his  bedl 
that  night  to  take  his  boots  off, "  this  is  what  comes 
of  trying  to  make  everybody  happy  and  comfortably 
with  a  little  fun.    I  wonder  what  the  governor'U  say.** 


"5 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  news  of  his  only  son's  engagement  took 
Captain  Nugent's  breath  away,  which,  all 
things  considered,  was  perhaps  the  best 
thing  it  could  have  done.  He  sat  at  home  in  silent 
rage,  only  exploding  when  the  well-meaning  Mrs. 
Kingdom  sought  to  minimize  his  troubles  by  com- 
paring them  with  those  of  Job.  Her  reminder  that 
to  the  best  of  her  remembrance  he  had  never  had  a 
boil  in  his  life  put  the  finishing  touch  to  his  pa- 
tience, and,  despairing  of  drawing-room  synonyms 
for  the  words  which  trembled  on  his  lips,  he  beat  a 
precipitate  retreat  to  the  garden. 

His  son  bore  his  new  honours  bravely.  To  an 
appealing  and  indignant  letter  from  his  sister  he 
wrote  gravely,  reminding  her  of  the  difference  in 
their  years,  and  also  that  he  had  never  interfered  in 
her  flirtations,  however  sorely  his  brotherly  heart 
might  have  been  wrung  by  them.  He  urged  her  to 
forsake  such  diversions  for  the  future,  and  to  look 
for  an  alliance  with  some  noble,  open-handed  man 
with  a  large  banking  account  and  a  fondness  for  his 
wife's  relatives. 

114 


At  Sunwich  Port 

To  Jem  Hardy,  who  ventured  on  a  delicate  re- 
monstrance one  evening,  he  was  less  patient,  and 
displayed  a  newly  acquired  dignity  which  was  a 
source  of  considerable  embarrassment  to  that  well- 
meaning  gentleman.  He  even  got  up  to  search  for 
his  hat,  and  was  only  induced  to  resume  his  seat  by 
the  physical  exertions  of  his  host. 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  be  offensive,"  said  the  latter. 

"  But  you  were,"  said  the  aggrieved  man. 

Hardy  apologized. 

"  Talk  of  that  kind  is  a  slight  to  my  future  wife," 
said  Nugent,  firmly.  "  Besides,  what  business  is  it 
of  yours  ? " 

Hardy  regarded  him  thoughtfully.  It  was  some 
time  since  he  had  seen  Miss  Nugent,  and  he  felt  that 
he  was  losing  valuable  time.  He  had  hoped  great 
things  from  the  advent  of  her  brother,  and  now  his 
intimacy  seemed  worse  than  useless.  He  resolved 
to  take  him  into  his  confidence. 

"  I  spoke  from  selfish  motives,"  he  said,  at  last. 
**  I  wanted  you  to  make  friends  with  your  father 
again." 

"  What  for  ?  "  inquired  the  other,  staring. 

"  To  pave  the  way  for  me,"  said  Hardy,  raising 
his  voice  as  he  thought  of  his  wrongs  ;  "  and  now, 
owing  to  your  confounded  matrimonial  business, 
that's  all  knocked  on  the  head.  I  wouldn't  care  whom 
you  married  if  it  didn't  interfere  with  my  affairs  so." 

"S 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  Do  you  mean,"  inquired  the  astonished  Mr.  Nu» 
rgentj  "  that  you  want  to  be  on  friendly  terms  with 
my  father  ?  "  ' 

"Yes." 

Mr.  Nugent  gazed  at  him  round-eyed.  "  You 
haven't  had  a  blow  on  the  head  or  anything  of  that 
'^ort  at  any  time,  have  you  ?  "  he  inquired. 

Hardy  shook  his  head  impatiently.  "  You  don't 
seem  to  suffer  from  an  excess  of  intellect  yourself,'* 
he  retorted.  "  I  don't  want  to  be  offensive  again, 
still,  I  should  think  it  is  pretty  plain  there  is  only 
one  reasoh  why  I  should  go  out  of  my  way  to  seek 
'the  society  of  your  ^ather." 

"  Say  what  you  like  about  my  intellect,"  replied 
the  dutiful  son,  "  but  !  can't  think  of  even  orie-^ — not 
'.even  a  small  one.  Not — Good  gracious!  You 
•don't  mean — you  can't  mean 

Hardy  looked  at  him. 

*'  Not  that,"  said  Mr.  Nugent,  whose  intellect  had 
suddenly  become  painfully  acute — "  not  her?" 

"  Why  not  ?  "  inquired  the  other. 

Mr.  Nugent  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  regarded 
him  with  an  air  of  kindly  interest.  "  Well,  there's 
no  need  for  you  to  worry  about  my  father  for  that," 
he  said  ;  "  he  would  raise  no  objection." 

^^  Ehi  "  said  Hardy,  starting  up  from  his  chair. 

"  He  would  welcome  it,"  said  Mr.  Nugent,  posi- 
^vely.     "  There   is   nothing   th^t   h?   would    like 

'    "' n6 


At  Sunwich  Port 

better ;  and  I  don't  mind  telling  you  a  secret — she 
Hkes  you." 

Hardy  reddened.  "How  do  you  know?"  he 
stammered. 

"  1  know  it  for  a  fact,"  said  the  other,  impres- 
sively.  "  I  have  heard  her  say  so.  But  you've  been 
very  plain-spoken  about  me,  Jem,  so  that  I  shall  say 
what  I  think." 

"  Do,"  said  his  bewildered  friend. 

"  I  think  you'd  be  throwing  yourself  away,"  said 
Nugent ;  "  to  my  mind  it's  a  most  unsuitable  match 
in  every  way.  She's  got  no  money,  no  looks,  no 
style.  Nothing  but  a  good  kind  heart  rather  the 
worse  for  wear.  I  suppose  you  know  she's  been 
married  once  ? " 

"  IVhai  !  "  shouted  the  other.     "  Married?  " 

Mr.  Nugent  nodded.  His  face  was  perfectly 
grave,  but  the  joke  was  beginning  to  prey  upon  his 
vitals  in  a  manner  which  brooked  no  delay. 

"  I  thought  everybody  knew  it,"  he  said.  "  We 
have  never  disguised  the  fact.  Her  husband  died 
twenty  years  ago  last " 

"  Twenty "  said   his   suddenly   enlightened 

listener.     "  Who  ?— What  ?  " 

Mr.  Nugent,  incapable  of  reply,  put  his  head  on 
the  table  and  beat  the  air  frantically  with  his  hand, 
while  gasping  sobs  rent  his  tortured  frame. 

"  Dear — aunt,"  jie  choked,  "  how  pleas — pleased 
117  .  ■  •  - ,  J 


At  Sunwich  Port 

she'd  be  if — she  knew.  Don't  look  like  that, 
Hardy.     You'll  kill  me." 

*'  You  seem  amused,"  said  Hardy,  between  his 
teeth. 

"  And  you'll  be  Kate's  uncle,"  said  Mr.  Nugent, 
sitting  up  and  wiping  his  eyes.     "  Poor  little  Kate." 

He  put  his  head  on  the  table  again.  "  And  mine," 
he  wailed.  "  Uncle  Jemmy  ! — will  you  tip  us  half- 
crowns,  nunky  ?  " 

Mr.  Hardy's  expression  of  lofty  scorn  only  served 
to  retard  his  recovery,  but  he  sat  up  at  last  and,  giv 
ing  his  eyes  a  final  wipe,  beamed  kindly  upon  his 
victim. 

"  Well,  I'll  do  what  I  can  for  you,"  he  observed, 
"  but  I  suppose  you  know  Kate's  off  for  a  three 
months'  visit  to  London  to-morrow?" 

The  other  observed  that  he  didn't  know  it,  and, 
taught  by  his  recent  experience,  eyed  him  suspi- 
ciously. 

"  It's  quite  true,"  said  Nugent ;  "  she's  going  to 
stay  with  some  relatives  of  ours.  She  used  to  be 
very  fond  of  one  of  the  boys — her  cousin  Herbert — 
so  you  mustn't  be  surprised  if  she  comes  back  en- 
gaged. But  I  daresay  you'll  have  forgotten  all  about 
her  in  three  months.  And,  anyway,  I  don't  sup- 
pose she'd  look  at  you  if  you  were  the  last  man  in 
the  world.  If  you'll  walk  part  of  the  way  home 
with  me  I'll  regale  you  with  anecdotes  of  her  child* 

n8 


At  Sunwich  Port 

hood  which  will  probably  cause  you  to  change  your 
views  altogether." 

In   Fullalove  Alley  Mr.   Edward  Silk,  his  fore- 
bodings fulfilled,  received  the  news  of  Amelia  Ky- 


"  A  spirit  of  quiet  despair." 

bird's  faithlessness  in  a  spirit  of  quiet  despair,  and 
turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  voluble  sympathy  of  his 
neighbours.  Similar  things  had  happened  to  young 
men  living  there  before,  but   their  behaviour  had 

119 


At  Sunwich  Port 

been  widely  different  to  Mr.  Silk's.  Bob  Crump, 
for  instance,  had  been  jilted  on  the  very  morning  he 
had  arranged  for  his  wedding,  but  instead  of  going 
about  in  a  state  of  gentle  melancholy  he  went  round 
and  fought  his  beloved's  father — merely  because  it 
was  her  father — and  wound  up  an  exciting  day  by 
selling  off  his  household  goods  to  the  highest  bidders. 
Henry  Jones  in  similar  circumstances  relieved  his 
great  grief  by  walking  up  and  down  the  alley  smash- 
irrg  every  window  within  reach  of  his  stick. 

But  these  were  men  of  spirit ;  Mr.  Silk  was  cast 
in  a  different  mould,  and  his  fair  neighbours  sympa- 
thized heartily  with  him  in  his  bereavement,  while 
utterly  failing  to  understand  any  man  breaking  his 
heart  over  Amelia  Kybird. 

His  mother,  a  widow  of  uncertain  age,  shook  her 
head  over  him  and  hinted  darkly  at  consumption, 
an  idea  which  was  very  pleasing  to  her  son,  and  gave 
him  an  increased  interest  in  a  slight  cold  from  which 
he  was  suffering. 

"  He  wants  taking  out  of  'imself,"  said  Mr.  Wilks, 
who  had  stepped  across  the  alley  to  discuss  the  sub- 
ject with  his  neighbour;  "cheerful  society  and  'obbies 
— that's  what  *e  wants." 

"He's  got  a  faithful  'eart,"  sighed  Mrs.  Silk. 
"It's  in  the  family  ;  *e  can't  'elpit." 

"  But  'e  might  be  lifted  out  of  it,"  urged  Mr. 
Wilks.     "  I    'ad   several    disappointments    in    my 

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At  Sunwich  Port 

young  days.  One  time  I  'ad  a  fresh  gal  every 
v'y'ge  a'most." 

Mrs.  Silk  sniffed  and  looked  up  the  alley,  whereat 
two  neighbours  who  happened  to  be  at  their  doors 
glanced  up  and  down  casually,  and  retreated  inside 
to  continue  their  vigil  from  the  windows. 

"  Silk  courted  me  for  fifteen  years  before  I  would 
say  '  yes,'  "  she  said,  severely. 

"  Fifteen  years  ! "  responded  the  other.  He  cast 
his  eyes  upwards  and  his  lips  twitched.  The  most 
casual  observer  could  have  seen  that  he  was  engaged 
in  calculations  of  an  abstruse  and  elusive  nature. 

"  I  was  on'y  seven  when  'e  started,"  said  Mrs. 
Silk,  sharply. 

Mr.  Wilks  brought  his  eyes  to  a  level  again, 
"Oh,  seven,"  he  remarked. 

"  And  we  was  married  two  days  before  my  nine- 
teenth birthday,"  added  Mrs.  Silk,  whose  own  arith- 
metic had  always  been  her  weak  point. 

"Just  so,"  said  Mr.  Wilks.  He  glanced  at  thie 
sharp  white  face  and  shapeless  figure  before  him. 
"  It's  hard  to  believe  you  can  'ave  a  son  Teddy's 
age,"  he  added,  gallantly. 

"  It  makes  you  feel  as  if  you're  getting  on,"  said 
the  widow. 

The  ex-steward  agreed,  and  after  standing  a  min- 
ute or  two  in  silence  made  a  preliminary  motion  of 
withdrawal. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Beautiful  your  plants  are  looking,"  said  Mrs. 
Silk,  glancing  over  at  his  window ;  "  I  can't  think 
what  you  do  to  'em." 

The  gratified  Mr.  Wilks  began  to  explain.  It 
appeared  that  plants  wanted  almost  as  much  looking 
after  as  daughters. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  'em  close,"  said  Mrs.  Silk. 

"  Come  in  and  'ave  a  look  at  'em,"  responded  her 
neighbour. 

Mrs.  Silk  hesitated  and  displayed  a  maidenly 
coyness  far  in  excess  of  the  needs  of  the  situation. 
Then  she  stepped  across,  and  five  seconds  later  the 
two  matrons,  with  consternation  writ  large  upon  their 
faces,  appeared  at  their  doors  again  and,  exchanging 
glances  across  the  alley,  met  in  the  centre. 

They  were  more  surprised  an  evening  or  two  later 
to  see  Mr.  Wilks  leave  his  house  to  pay  a  return 
visit,  bearing  in  his  hand  a  small  bunch  of  his  cher- 
ished blooms.  That  they  were  blooms  which  would 
have  paid  the  debt  of  Nature  in  a  few  hours  at  most 
in  no  way  detracted  from  the  widow's  expressions  of 
pleasure  at  receiving  them,  and  Mr.  Wilks,  who  had 
been  invited  over  to  cheer  up  Mr.  Silk,  who  was  in 
a  particularly  black  mood,  sat  and  smiled  like  a  de- 
tected philanthropist  as  she  placed  them  in  water. 

"  Good  evenin',  Teddy,"  he  said,  breezily,  with  a 
side-glance  at  his  hostess.  "  What  a  lovely  day 
we  ve  ad. 

122 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  So  bright,"  said  Mrs.  Silk,  nodding  with  spirit. 

Mr.  Wilks  sat  down  and  gave  vent  to  such  a 

cheerful  laugh  that  the  ornaments  on  the  mantel- 


"  A  return  visit." 


piece  shook  with  it.  "It's  good  to  be  alive,'*  he 
declared. 

"  Ah,  you  enjoy  your  life,  Mr.  Wilks,"  said  the 
widow. 

"  Enjoy  it !  "  roared  Mr.  Wilks ;  "  enjoy  it ! 
Why    shouldn't    I  ?      Why    shouldn't    everybody 

123 


At  Sunwich  Port 

enjoy  their  lives  ?     It  was  what  they  was  given  to 
us  for." 

"  So  they  was,"  affirmed  Mrs.  Silk ;  "  nobody 
can  deny  that ;  not  if  they  try." 

"  Nobody  wants  to  deny  it,  ma'am,"  retorted 
Mr.  Wilks,  in  the  high  voice  he  kept  for  cheering- 
up  purposes.     "  I  enjoy  every  day  o'  my  life." 

He  filled  his  pipe,  chuckling  serenely,  and  having 
lit  it  sat  and  enjoyed  that.  Mrs.  Silk  retired  for  a 
space,  and  returning  with  a  jug  of  ale  poured  him 
out  a  glass  and  set  it  by  his  elbow. 

"  Here's  your  good  'ealth,  ma'am,"  said  Mr. 
Wilks,  raising  it.  "  Here's  yours,  Teddy — a  long 
life  and  a  'appy  one." 

Mr.  Silk  turned  listlessly.  "  I  don't  want  a  long 
life,"  he  remarked. 

His  mother  and  her  visitor  exchanged  glances. 

"  That's  'ow  'e  goes  on,"  remarked  the  former,  in 
an  audible  whisper.  Mr.  Wilks  nodded,  reassur- 
ingly. 

"  I  'ad  them  ideas  once,"  he  said,  "  but  they  go  off. 
If  you  could  only  live  to  see  Teddy  at  the  age  o' 
ninety-five,  'e  wouldn't  want  to  go  then.  'E'd  say 
it  was  crool  hard,  being  cut  off  in  the  flower  of  'is 
youth." 

Mrs.  Silk  laughed  gaily  and  Mr.  Wilks  bellowed 
a  gruff  accompaniment.  Mr.  Edward  Silk  eyed 
them  pityingly. 

124 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"That's  the  'ardship  of  it,"  he  said,  slowly, 
as  he  looked  round  from  his  seat  by  the  fireplace ; 
"  that's  where  the  'ollowness  of  things  comes  in. 
That's  where  I  envy  Mr.  Wilks." 

"Envy  me?"  said  the  smiling  visitor,  "what 
for?" 

"  Because  you're  so  near  the  grave,"  said  Mr. 
Silk. 

Mr.  Wilks,  who  was  taking  another  draught  of 
beer,  put  the  glass  down  and  eyed  him  fixedly. 

"  That's  why  I  envy  you,"  continued  the  other. 
"  I  don't  want  to  live,  and  you  do,  and  yet  I  dessay 
I  shall  be  walking  about  forty  and  fifty  years  after 
you're  dead  and  forgotten." 

"Wot  d'ye  mean — near  the  grave?"  inquired 
Mr.  Wilks,  somewhat  shortly. 

"  I  was  referring  to  your  age,"  replied  the  other; 
"  it's  strange  to  see  'ow  the  aged  'ang  on  to  life. 
You  can't  'ave  much  pleasure  at  your  time  o'  life. 
And  you're  all  alone  ;  the  last  withered  branch  left." 

"  Withered  branch  !  "  began  Mr.  Wilks ;  "  'ere, 
look  'ere,  Teddy " 

"  All  the  others  'ave  gone,"  pursued  Mr.  Silk, 
"and  they're  beckoning  to  you." 

"  Let  'em  beckon,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  coldly.  "  I'm 
not  going  yet." 

"  You're  not  young,"  said  Mr.  Silk,  gazing  medi- 
tatively at  the  grate, "and  I  envy  you  that.     It  can 

125 


At  Sunwich  Port 

only  be  a  matter  of  a  year  or  two  at  most  before  you 
are  sleeping  your  last  long  sleep." 

"Teddy!"  protested  Mrs.  Silk. 

"  It's  true,  mother,"  said  the  melancholy  youth. 
"  Mr.  Wilks  is  old.  Why  should  'e  mind  being 
told  of  it?  If 'e  had  'ad  the  trouble  I've  'ad  'e'd 
be  glad  to  go.  But  he'll  'ave  to  go,  whether  'e 
likes  it  or  not.  It  might  be  to-night.  Who  can 
tell  ? " 

Mr.  Wilks,  unasked,  poured  himself  out  another 
glass  of  ale,  and  drank  it  off  with  the  air  of  a  man 
who  intended  to  make  sure  of  that.  It  seemed  a 
trifle  more  flat  than  the  last. 

"  So  many  men  o*  your  age  and  thereabouts," 
continued  Mr.  Silk,  "  think  that  they're  going  to 
live  on  to  eighty  or  ninety,  but  there's  very  few  of 
'em  do.  It's  only  a  short  while,  Mr.  Wilks,  and 
the  little  children'll  be  running  about  over  your 
grave  and  picking  daisies  off^of  it." 

"  Ho,  will  they  ?  "  said  the  irritated  Mr.  Wilks; 
"  they'd  better  not  let  me  catch  'em  at  it,  that's  all." 

"  He's  always  talking  like  that  now,"  said  Mrs. 
Silk,  not  without  a  certain  pride  in  her  tones ; 
"  that's  why  I  asked  you  in  to  cheer  'im  up." 

"All  your  troubles'll  be  over  then,"  continued 
the  warning  voice,  "  and  in  a  month  or  two  even 
your  name'll  be  forgotten.  That's  the  way  of  the 
world.     Think  'ow  soon  the  last  five  years  of  your 

126 


At  Sunwich  Port 


life  'ave  passed  ;  the  next  five'll  pass  ten  times  as 
fast  even  if  you  live  as  long,  which  ain't  likely." 


"He  talks  like  a  clergy- 
man," said  Mrs.  Silk,  in  a  ^^ 
stage  whisper. 

Mr.  Wilks  nodded,  and 
despite  his  hostess's  protests 
rose  to  go.  He  shook  hands 
with  her  and,  after  a  short  x 
but  sharp  inward  struggle, 
shook  hands  with  her  son. 
It  was  late  in  the  evening  as 
he  left,  but  the  houses  had    "  "«  *=*  "^  *°*»^'*s  '•'«  ''f'=  *"** 

.  bustle  of  the  Two  Schooners." 

not  yet  been  lit  up.     Dim 

jfigures  sat  in  doorways  or  stood  about   the  alley, 
and  there  was  an  air  of  peace  and  rest  strangely  and 

127 


At  Sunwich  Port 

41 1  comfortably  in  keeping  with  the  conversation  to 
which  he  had  just  been  listening.  He  looked  in  at 
his  own  door;  the  furniture  seemed  stifFer  than 
usual  and  the  tick  of  the  clock  more  deliberate.  He 
closed  the  door  again  and,  taking  a  deep  breath, 
set  off  towards  the  life  and  bustle  of  the  Two 
Schooners. 


I9ft 


CHAPTER    X 

TIME  failed  to  soften  the  captain's  ideas  con- 
cerning his  son's  engagement,  and  all  men- 
tion of  the  subject  in  the  house  was  strictly 
forbidden.  Occasionally  he  was  favoured  with  a 
glimpse  of  his  son  and  Miss  Kybird  out  together,  a 
sight  which  imp>arted  such  a  flavour  to  his  temper 
and  ordinary  intercourse  that  Mrs.  Kingdom,  in  un- 
conscious imitation  of  Mr.  James  Hardy,  began  to 
count  the  days  which  must  elapse  before  her  niece's 
return  from  London.  His  ill-temper  even  infected 
the  other  members  of  the  household,  and  Mrs.  King- 
dom sat  brooding  in  her  bedroom  all  one  afternoon, 
because  Bella  had  called  her  an  "  overbearing  dish- 
pot." 

The  finishing  touch  to  his  patience  was*  supplied 
by  a  little  misunderstanding  between  Mr.  Kybird 
and  the  f>olice.  For  the  second  time  in  his  career 
the  shopkeeper  appeared  before  the  magistrates  to 
explain  the  circumstances  in  which  he  had  purchased 
stolen  property,  and  for  the  second  time  he  left  the 
court  without  a  stain  on  his  character,  but  with  a  sig- 
nificant magisterial  caution  not  to  appear  there  again, 

129 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Jack  Nugent  gave  evidence  in  the  case,  and  some 
of  his  replies  were  deemed  worthy  of  reproduction 


*'For  the  second  time  he  left  the  court  without  a  stain  on  his  chjncter." 

in  the  Sunwich  Herald^  a  circumstance  which  lost  the 
proprietors  a  subscriber  of  many  years'  standing. 

130 


At  Sunvvich  Port 

One  by  one  various  schemes  for  preventing  his 
son's  projected  alliance  were  dismissed  as  impracti- 
cable. A  cherished  design  of  confining  him  in  an 
asylum  for  the  mentally  afflicted  until  such  time  as 
he  should  have  regained  his  senses  was  spoilt  by  the 
refusal  of  Dr.  Murchison  to  arrange  for  the  neces- 
sary certificate ;  a  refusal  which  was  like  to  have 
been  fraught  with  serious  consequences  to  that  gen- 
tleman's hopes  of  entering  the  captain's  family. 

Brooding  over  his  wrongs  the  captain,  a  day  or 
two  after  his  daughter's  return,  strolled  slowly  down 
towards  the  harbour.  It  was  afternoon,  and  the 
short  winter  day  was  already  drawing  towards  a  close. 
The  shipping  looked  cold  and  desolate  in  the  grey- 
ness,  but  a  bustle  of  work  prevailed  on  the  Conqueror^ 
which  was  nearly  ready  for  sea  again.  The  captain's 
gaze  wandered  from  his  old  craft  to  the  small  vessels 
dotted  about  the  harbour  and  finally  dwelt  admir- 
ingly on  the  lines  of  the  whaler  Seabird,  which  had 
put  in  a  few  days  before  as  the  result  of  a  slight  col- 
lision with  a  fishing-boat.  She  was  high  out  of  the 
water  and  beautifully  rigged.  A  dog  ran  up  and 
down  her  decks  barking,  and  a  couple  of  squat  fig- 
ures leaned  over  the  bulwarks  gazing  stolidly  ashore. 

There  was  something  about  the  vessel  which  took 
his  fancy,  and  he  stood  for  some  time  on  the  edge 
of  the  quay,  looking  at  her.  In  a  day  or  two  she 
would  sail  for  a  voyage  the  length  of  which  would 

131 


At  Sunwich  Port 

depend  upon  her  success ;  a  voyage  which  would  for 
a  long  period  keep  all  on  board  of  her  out  of  the 
mischief  which  so  easily  happens  ashore.  If  only 
Jack 

He  started  and  stared  more  intently  than  before. 
He  was  not  an  imaginative  man,  but  he  had  in  his 
mind's  eye  a  sudden  vision  of  his  only  son  waving 
farewells  from  the  deck  of  the  whaler  as  she  emerged 
from  the  harbour  into  the  open  sea,  while  Amelia 
Kybird  tore  her  yellow  locks  ashore.  It  was  a 
vision  to  cheer  any  self-respecting  father's  heart,  and 
he  brought  his  mind  back  with  some  regret  to  the 
reality  of  the  anchored  ship. 

He  walked  home  slowly.  At  the  Kybirds'  door 
the  proprietor,  smoking  a  short  clay  pipe,  eyed  him 
with  furtive  glee  as  he  passed.  Farther  along  the 
road  the  Hardys,  father  and  son,  stepp)ed  briskly 
together.  Altogether  a  trying  walk,  and  calculated 
to  make  him  more  dissatisfied  than  ever  with  the 
present  state  of  affairs.  When  his  daughter  shook 
her  head  at  him  and  accused  him  of  going  off  on  a 
solitary  frolic  his  stock  of  patience  gave  out  en- 
tirely. 

A  thoughtful  night  led  to  a  visit  to  Mr.  Wilks 
the  following  evening.  It  required  a  great  deal  of 
deliberation  on  his  part  before  he  could  make  up  his 
mind  to  the  step,  but  he  needed  his  old  steward's 
assistance  in  a  little  plan  he  had  conceived  for  his 

132 


At  Sunwich  Port 

son*s  benefit,  and  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  he 
paid  him  the  supreme  honour  of  a  call. 

The  honour  was  so  unexpected  that  Mr.  Wilks, 


*'The  proprietor  eyed  hlin  with  furtive  glee  as  he  passed." 

coming  into  the  parlour  in  response  to  the  tapping 
of  the  captain's  stick  on  the  floor,  stood  for  a  short 
time  eyeing  him  in  dismay.  Only  two  minutes  be- 
fore he  had  taken  Mr.  James  Hardy  into  the  kitchen 

133 


At  Sunwich  Port 

to  point  out  the  interior  beauties  of  an  ancient  clock, 
and  the  situation  simply  appalled  him.  The  captain 
greeted  him  almost  politely  and  bade  him  sit  down, 
Mr.  Wilks  smiled  faintly  and  caught  his  breath. 

*'  Sit  down,"  repeated  the  captain. 

"  IVe  left  something  in  the  kitchen,  sir,"  said 
Mr.  Wilks.     "  I'll  be  back  in  half  a  minute." 

The  captain  nodded.  In  the  kitchen  Mr.  Wilks 
rapidly  and  incoherently  explained  the  situation  to 
Mr.  Hardy. 

"  I'll  sit  here,"  said  the  latter,  drawing  up  a  com- 
fortable oak  chair  to  the  stove. 

"  You  see,  he  don't  know  that  we  know  each 
other,"  explained  the  apologetic  steward,  "  but  I 
don't  like  leaving  you  in  the  kitchen." 

"  I'm  all  right,"  said  Hardy  ;  "  don't  you  trouble 
about  me." 

He  waved  him  away,  and  Mr.  Wilks,  still  pale, 
closed  the  door  behind  him  and,  rejoining  the  cap- 
tain, sat  down  on  the  extreme  edge  of  a  chair  and 
waited. 

"  I've  come  to  see  you  on  a  little  matter  of  busi- 
ness," said  his  visitor. 

Mr.  Wilks  smiled ;  then,  feeling  that  perhaps 
that  was  not  quite  the  right  thing  to  do,  looked 
serious  again. 

"  I  came  to  see  you  about  my — my  son,"  con- 
tinued the  captain. 

134 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks.  "  Master  Jack,  you 
mean  r 

*•  I've  only  got  one  son,"  said  the  other,  unpleas- 
antly, "unless  you  happen  to  know  of  any  more." 

Mr.  Wilks  almost  fell  off  the  edge  of  the  chair 
in  his  haste  to  disclaim  any  such  knowledge.  His 
ideas  were  in  a  ferment,  and  the  guilty  knowledge  of 
what  he  had  left  in  the  kitchen  added  to  his  con- 
fusion. And  just  at  that  moment  the  door  opened 
and  Miss  Nugent  came  briskly  in. 

Her  surprise  at  seeing  her  father  ensconced  in  a 
chair  by  the  fire  led  to  a  rapid  volley  of  questions. 
The  captain,  in  lieu  of  answering  them,  asked  another. 

"  What  do  you  want  here  ?  " 

"  I  have  come  to  see  Sam,"  said  Miss  Nugent. 
**  Fancy  seeing  you  here  !      How  are  you,  Sam  P " 

"  Pretty  well,  miss,  thank'ee,"  replied  Mr.  Wilks, 
••  considering,"  he  added,  truthfully,  after  a  moment's 
reflection. 

Miss  Nugent  dropped  into  a  chair  and  put  her 
feet  on  the  fender.     Her  father  eyed  her  restlessly. 

"  I  came  here  to  speak  to  Sam  about  a  private 
matter,"  he  said,  abruptly. 

"  Private  matter,"  said  his  daughter,  looking 
round  in  surprise.     "  What  about  ?  " 

"  A  private  matter,"  repeated  Captain  Nugent. 
"  Suppose  you  come  in  some  other  time." 

Kate  Nugent  sighed  and  took  her  feet  from  the 
135 


At  Sunwich  Port 

fender,  "  1*11  go  and  wait  in  the  kitchen,"  she  said, 
crossing  to  the  door. 

Both  men  protested.  The  captain  because  it  ill- 
assorted  with  his  dignity  for  his  daughter  to  sit  in 
the  kitchen,  and  Mr.  Wilks  because  of  the  visitor 
already  there.  The  face  of  the  steward,  indeed, 
took  on  such  extraordinary  expressions  in  his  en- 
deavour to  convey  private  information  to  the  girl 
that  she  gazed  at  him  in  silent  amazement.  Then 
she  turned  the  handle  of  the  door  and,  passing 
through,  closed  it  with  a  bang  which  was  final. 

Mr.  Wilks  stood  spellbound,  but  nothing  hap- 
pened. There  was  no  cry  of  surprise  ;  no  hasty 
reappearance  of  an  indignant  Kate  Nugent.  His 
features  working  nervously  he  resumed  his  seat  and 
gazed  dutifully  at  his  superior  officer. 

"  I  suppose  you've  heard  that  my  son  is  going  to 
get  married  ? "  said  the  latter. 

"  I  couldn't  help  hearing  of  it,  sir,"  said  the  stew- 
ard in  self  defence — "  nobody  could." 

**  He's  going  to  marry  that  yellow-headed  Jezebel 
of  Kybird's,"  said  the  captain,  staring  at  the  fire. 

Mr.  Wilks  murmured  that  he  couldn't  understand 
anybody  liking  yellow  hair,  and,  more  than  that,  the 
general  opinion  of  the  ladies  in  FuUalove  Alley  was 
that  it  was  dyed. 

"  I'm  going  to  ship  him  on  the  Seabirdf*  con- 
tinued the  captain.     "  She'll  probably  be  away  for  a 

136 


At  Sunwich  Port 

year  or  two,  and,  in  the  meantime,  this  girl  will  prob- 
ably marry  somebody  else.  Especially  if  she  doesn't 
know  what  has  become  of  him.  He  can't  get  into 
mischief  aboard  ship." 

"  No,  sir,"  said  the  wondering  Mr.  Wilks.  "  Is 
Master  Jack  agreeable  to  going,  sir  ?  " 

"  That's  nothing  to  do  with  it,"  said  the  captain^ 
sharply, 

"  No,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  "o*  course  not.  I 
was  only  a  sort  o'  wondering  how  he  was  going  to 
be  persuaded  to  go  if  'e  ain't." 

"  That's  what  I  came  here  about,**  said  the  other. 
"  I  want  you  to  go  and  fix  it  up  wth  Nathan 
Smith." 

"  Do  you  want  *im  to  be  crimped^  sir  ? "  stam- 
mered Mr.  Wilks. 

"  I  want  him  shipped  aboard  the  Seahirdy*  re- 
turned the  other,  "  and  Smith's  the  man  to  do  it." 

**  It's  a  very  hard  thing  to  do  in  these  days,  sir," 
said  Mr.  Wilks,  shaking  his  head.  "  What  with 
signing  on  aboard  the  day  before  the  ship  sails,  and 
before  the  Board  o'  Trade  officers,  I'm  sure  it's  a 
wonder  that  anybody  goes  to  sea  at  all." 

"  You  leave  that  to  Smith,"  said  the  captain,  im- 
patiently. "  The  Seabird  sails  on  Friday  morning's 
tide.  Tell  Smith  I'll  arrange  to  meet  my  son  here 
on  Thursday  night,  and  that  he  must  have  some 
liquor  for  us  and  a  fly  waiting  on  the  beach." 

137 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Mr.  Wilks  wriggled :  "  But  what  about  signing 
on,  sir  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  He  won't  sign  on,**  said  the  captain,  "  he'll  be  a 
stowaway.  Smith  must  get  him  smuggled  aboard, 
and  bribe  the  hands  to  let  him  lie  hidden  in  the 
fo*c's'le.  The  Seabird  won't  put  back  to  put  him 
ashore.  Here  is  five  pounds  ;  give  Smith  two  or 
three  now,  and  the  remainder  when  the  job  is 
done." 

The  steward  took  the  money  reluctantly  and, 
plucking  up  his  courage,  looked  his  old  master  in 
the  face. 

"  It's  a  *ard  life  afore  the  mast,  sir,"  he  said, 
slowly. 

"  Rubbish  !  "  was  the  reply.  "  It'll  make  a  man 
of  him.     Besides,  what's  it  got  to  do  with  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  care  about  the  job,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks, 
bravely. 

"  What's  that  got  to  do  with  it  ?  **  demanded  the 
other,  frowning.  "  You  go  and  fix  it  up  with  Nathan 
Smith  as  soon  as  possible." 

Mr.  Wilks  shuffled  his  feet  and  strove  to  remind 
himself  that  he  was  a  gentleman  of  independent 
means,  and  could  please  himself. 

"  I've  known  'im  since  he  was  a  baby,"  he  mur- 
mured, defiantly. 

"  I  don't  want  to  hear  anything  more  from  you, 
Wilks,"  said  the  captain,  in  a  hard  voice.     "Those 

i3« 


At  Sunwich  Port 

are  my  orders,  and  you  had  better  see  that  they  are 
carried  out.  My  son  will  be  one  of  the  first  to 
thank  you  later  on  for  getting  him  out  of  such  a 
mess." 

Mr.  Wilks's  brow  cleared  somewhat.  "  I  s*pose 
Miss  Kate  *ud  be  pleased  too,**  he  remarked,  hope- 
fully. 

"  Of  course  she  will,"  said  the  captain.  "  Now  I 
look  to  you,  Wilks,  to  manage  this  thing  properly, 
I  wouldn't  trust  anybody  else,  and  you've  never 
disappointed  me  yet." 

The  steward  gasped  and,  doubting  whether  he  had 
heard  aright,  looked  towards  his  old  master,  but  in 
vain,  for  the  confirmation  of  further  compliments. 
In  all  his  long  years  of  service  he  had  never  been 
praised  by  him  before.  He  leaned  forward  eagerly 
and  began  to  discuss  ways  and  means. 

In  the  next  room  conversation  was  also  proceed- 
ing, but  fitfully.  Miss  Nugent's  consternation  when 
she  closed  the  door  behind  her  and  found  herself 
face  to  face  with  Mr.  Hardy  was  difficult  of  conceal- 
ment. Too  late  she  understood  the  facial  contor- 
tions of  Mr.  Wilks,  and,  resigning  herself  to  the  in- 
evitable, accepted  the  chair  placed  for  her  by  the 
highly  pleased  Jem,  and  sat  regarding  him  calmly 
from  the  other  side  of  the  fender. 

"  I  am  waiting  here  for  my  father,"  she  said,  in 
explanation. 

>39 


At  Sunwich  Port 


««Mi88  Nugent's  consternation  was  difficult  of  concealment." 

« In  deference  to  Wilks's   terrors  I   am  waiting 
.ere  until   he  has  gone,"  said  Hardy,  with  a  halt 

smile. 

140 


At  Sunwich  Port 

There  was  a  pause.  "  I  hope  that  he  will  not  be 
long,"  said  the  girl. 

"  Thank  you,"  returned  Hardy,  wilfully  misun- 
derstanding, "  but  I  am  in  no  hurry." 

He  gazed  at  her  with  admiration.  The  cold  air 
had  heightened  her  colour,  and  the  brightness  of 
her  eyes  shamed  the  solitary  candle  which  lit  up  the 
array  of  burnished  metal  on  the  mantelpiece. 

"  I  hope  you  enjoyed  your  visit  to  London,"  he 
said. 

Before  replying  Miss  Nugent  favoured  him  with 
a  glance  designed  to  express  surprise  at  least  at  his 
knowledge  of  her  movements.  "  Very  much,  thank 
you,"  she  said,  at  last. 

Mr.  Hardy,  still  looking  at  her  with  much  comfort 
to  himself,  felt  an  insane  desire  to  tell  her  how  much 
she  had  been  missed  by  one  person  at  least  in  Sunwich. 
Saved  from  this  suicidal  folly  by  the  little  common 
sense  which  had  survived  the  shock  of  her  sudden 
appearance,  he  gave  the  information  indirectly. 

"  Quite  a  long  stay,"  he.  murmured ;  "  three 
months  and  three  days ;  no,  three  months  and  two 
days." 

A  sudden  wave  of  colour  swept  over  the  girl's  face 
at  the  ingenuity  of  this  mode  of  attack.  She  was 
used  to  attention  and  took  compliments  as  her  due, 
but  the  significant  audacity  of  this  one,  baffled  her. 
She  sat  with  downcast  eyes  looking  at  the  fender. 

141 


At  Sunwich  Port 

occasionally  glancing  from  the  corner  of  her  eye  to 
see  whether  he  was  preparing  to  renew  the  assault. 
He  had  certainly  changed  from  the  Jem  Hardy  of 
olden  days.  She  had  a  faint  idea  that  his  taste  had 
improved. 

**Wilks  keeps  his  house  in  good  order,"  said 
Hardy,  looking  round. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  girl. 

"Wonder  why  he  never  married,"  said  Hardy, 
musingly;  "for  my  part  I  can't  understand  a  man 
remaining  single  all  his  life  ;  can  you  ?  " 

"I  never  think  of  such  things,"  said  Miss  Nu- 
gent, coldly — and  untruthfully. 

"  If  it  was  only  to  have  somebody  to  wait  on  him 
and  keep  his  house  clean,"  pursued  Hardy,  with 
malice. 

Miss  Nugent  grew  restless,  and  the  wrongs  of  her 
sex  stirred  within  her.  "  You  have  very  lofty  ideas 
on  the  subject,"  she  said,  scornfully,  "  but  1  believe 
they  are  not  uncommon." 

"  Still,  you  have  never  thought  about  such  things, 
you  know,"  he  reminded  her. 

"  And  no  doubt  you  have  devoted  a  great  deal  of 
time  to  the  subject." 

Hardy  admitted  it  frankly.  "  But  only  since  I 
returned  to  Sunwich,"  he  said. 

"  Caused  by  the  spectacle  of  Sam's  forlorn  oondi- 
don,  I  suppose,"  said  Miss  Nugent, 

IA2 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  No,  it  wasn't  that,"  he  replied. 

Miss  Nugent,  indignant  at  having  been  drawn 
into  such  a  discussion,  lapsed  into  silence.  It  was 
safer  and  far  more  dignified,  but  at  the  same  time 
she  yearned  for  an  opportunity  of  teaching  this  pre- 
sumptuous young  man  a  lesson.  So  far  he  had  had 
it  all  his  own  way.  A  way  strewn  with  ambiguities 
which  a  modest  maiden  had  to  ignore  despite  herself. 

*'  Of  course,  Wilks  may  have  had  a  disappoint- 
ment," said  Hardy,  with  the  air  of  one  willing  to 
make  allowances. 

"  I  believe  he  had  about  fifty,"  said  the  girl,  carc^ 
lessly. 

Hardy  shook  his  head  in  strong  disapproval. 
"  No  man  should  have  more  than  one,"  he  said^ 
firmly ;  "  a  man  of  any  strength  of  will  wouldn't 
have  that." 

"  Strength  of  will  ?  "  repeated  the  astonished  Miss- 
Nugent. 

Their  eyes  met ;  hers  sparkling  with  indignation  ; 
his  full  of  cold  calculation.  If  he  had  had  any 
doubts  before,  he  was  quite  sure  now  that  he  had 
gone  the  right  way  to  work  to  attract  her  attention  ; 
she  was  almost  quivering  with  excitement. 

"  Your  ideas  will  probably  change  with  age — and 
disappointment,"  she  said,  sweetly. 

"  I  shall  not  be  disappointed,"  said  Hardy,  coolly. 
"  I'll  uke  care  of  that." 

U3 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Miss  Nugent  eyed  him  wistfully  and  racked  her 
brains  for  an  appropriate  and  crushing  rejoinder. 
In  all  her  experience — and  it  was  considerable  con- 
sidering her  years — she  had  never  met  with  such 
carefully  constructed  audacity,  and  she  longed,  with 
a  great  longing,  to  lure  him  into  the  open  and  de- 
stroy him.  She  was  still  considering  ways  and 
means  of  doing  this  when  the  door  opened  and  re- 
vealed the  surprised  and  angry  form  of  her  father 
and  behind  it  the  pallid  countenance  of  Mr.  Wilks. 
For  a  moment  anger  deprived  the  captain  of  utter- 
ance. 

«  Who "  he  stammered.     "  What '* 

"  What  a  long  time  you've  been,  father,"  said 
Miss  Nugent,  in  a  reproving  voice.  "  I  began  to 
be  afraid  you  were  never  going." 

**  You  come  home  with  me,"  said  the  captain,  re- 
covering. 

The  command  was  given  in  his  most  Imperious 
manner,  and  his  daughter  dropped  her  muff  in  some 
resentment  as  she  rose,  in  order  to  let  him  have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  Hardy  pick  it  up.  It  rolled, 
however,  in  his  direction,  and  he  stooped  for  it  just 
as  Hardy  darted  forward.  Their  heads  met  with  a 
crash,  and  Miss  Nugent  forgot  her  own  consterna- 
tion in  the  joy  of  beholding  the  pitiable  exhibition 
vhich  terror  made  of  Mr.  Wilks. 

"I'm  very  sorry,"  said  Hardy,  as  he  reverently 
144 


At  Sunwich  Port 

dusted  the  muff  on  his  coat-sleeve  before  returning 
it.     "  I'm  afraid  it  was  my  fault." 

"  It  was,"  said  the  infuriated  captain,  as  he  held 
the  door  open  for  his  daughter.    **  Now,  Kate." 


"  He  found  his  remaining  guest  holding  his  aching  head  beneath  the  tap.  ** 

Miss  Nugent  passed  through,  followed  by  her 
father,  and  escorted  to  the  front  door  by  the  stew- 
ard, whose  faint  "  Good-night "  was  utterly  ignored 
by  his  injured  commander.     He  stood  at  the  door 

MS 


At  Sunwich  Port 

until  they  had  turned  the  corner,  and,  returning  to 
the  kitchen,  found  his  remaining  guest  holding  his 
aching  head  beneath  the  tap. 

"And  now,"  said  the  captain,  sternly,  to  his 
daughter,  "  how  dare  you  sit  and  talk  to  that  young 
cub  ?     Eh  ?     How  dare  you  ? " 

"  He  was  there  when  I  went  in,"  said  his  daughter. 

"  Why  didn't  you  come  out,  then  ? "  demanded 
her  father. 

"  I  was  afraid  of  disturbing  you  and  Sam,"  said 
Miss  Nugent,  "  Besides,  why  shouldn't  I  speak 
to  him  ? " 

"  Why  ? "  shouted  the  captain.  "  Why  ?  Be- 
cause I  won't  have  it." 

"  I  thought  you  liked  him,"  said  Miss  Nugent, 
in  affected  surprise.    "  You  patted  him  on  the  head." 

The  captain,  hardly  able  to  believe  his  ears,  came 
to  an  impressive  stop  in  the  roadway,  but  Miss  Nu- 
gent walked  on.  She  felt  instinctively  that  the  joke 
was  thrown  away  on  him,  and,  in  the  absence  of  any 
other  audience,  wanted  to  enjoy  it  without  inter- 
ruption. Convulsive  and  half-suppressed  sounds, 
which  she  ascribed  to  a  slight  cold  caught  while 
waiting  in  the  kitchen,  escaped  her  at  intervals  for 
the  remainder  of  the  journey  home. 


F46 


CHAPTER  XI 

JACK  NUGENT'S  first  idea  on  seeing  a  letter 
from  his  father  asking  him  to  meet  him  at 
Samson  Wilks's  was  to  send  as  impolite  a  refu- 
sal as  a  strong  sense  of  undutifulness  and  a  not  inapt 
pen  could  arrange,  but  the  united  remonstrances  of 
the  Kybird  family  made  him  waver. 

"You  go,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  solemnly;  "take 
the  advice  of  a  man  wot's  seen  life,  and  go.  Who 
knows  but  wot  he's  a  thinking  of  doing  something 
for  you  ?  " 

"  Startin'  of  you  in  business  or  soraethin*,"  said 
Mrs.  Kybird.  "  But  if  'e  tries  to  break  it  off  be- 
tween you  and  'Melia  I  hope  you  know  what  to 
say." 

"  He  won't  do  that,"  said  her  husband. 

"  If  he  wants  to  see  me,"  said  Mr.  Nugent,  "  let 
him  come  here." 

"  I  wouldn't  'ave  'im  in  my  house,"  retorted  Mr. 
Kybird,  quickly.  "  An  Englishman's  'ouse  is  his 
castle,  and  I  won't  'ave  him  in  mine." 

"Why  not,  Dan'l,"  asked  his  wife,  "i£  the  two 
famiUes  is  to  be  connected  ?  " 

147 


^t  Sunwich  Port 


Mr.   Kybird  shook  his  head,  and,  catching  her 
eye,  winked  at  her  with  much  significance. 

"  'Ave  it  your  own  way,"  said  Mrs.  Kybird,  who 

was  always  inclined  to  make 
concessions  in  minor  mat- 
ters. "  'Ave  it  your  own 
way,  but  don't  blame  me, 
that's  all  I  ask." 

Urged  on  by  his  friends 
Mr.  Nugent  at  last  con- 
sented, and,  in  a  reply  to 
his  father,  agreed  to  meet 
'  him  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Wilks  on  Thursday  even- 
ing. He  was  not  free  him- 
self from  a  slight  curiosity 
as  to  the  reasons  which  had 
made  the  captain  unbend 
in  so  unusual  a  fashion. 

Mr.  Nathan  Smith  put 
in  an  appearance  at  six 
o'clock  on  the  fatal  evening. 
He  was  a  short,  slight  man, 
with  a  clean-shaven  face 
mapped  with  tiny  wrinkles,  and  a  pair  of  colourless 
eyes  the  blankness  of  whose  expression  defied  re- 
search. In  conversation,  especially  conversation  of 
a  diplomatic  nature,  Mr.  Smith  seemed  to  be  look- 

148 


"  Mr.  Nathan  Smith. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ing  through  his  opponent  at  something  beyond,  an 
uncomfortable  habit  which  was  a  source  of  much 
discomfort  to  his  victims. 

"  Here  we  are,  then,  Mr.  Wilks,"  he  said,  put- 
ting his  head  in  the  door  and  smiling  at  the  agitated 
steward. 

"  Come  in,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  shortly. 

Mr.  Smith  obliged.  "  Nice  night  outside,"  he 
said,  taking  a  chair  ;  "  clear  over'ead.  Wot  a  morn- 
ing it  'ud  be  for  a  sail  if  we  was  only  young  enough. 
Is  that  terbacker  in  that  canister  there  ? " 

The  other  pushed  it  towards  him. 

"  If  I  was  only  young  enough — and  silly  enough," 
said  the  boarding-house  master,  producing  a  pipe 
with  an  unusually  large  bowl  and  slowly  filling  it, 
"  there's  nothing  I  should  enjoy  more  than  a  three 
years*  cruise.  Nothing  to  do  and  everything  of  the 
best." 

"  'Ave  you  made  all  the  arrangements  ?  "  inquired 
Mr.  Wilks,  in  a  tone  of  cold  superiority. 

Mr.  Smith  glanced  affectionately  at  a  fish-bag  of 
bulky  appearance  which  stood  on  the  floor  between 
his  feet.  "  All  ready,"  he  said,  cheerfully,  "  an'  if 
you'd  like  a  v'y'ge  yourself  I  can  manage  it  for  you 
in  two  twos.     You've  on'y  got  to  say  the  word." 

"  I  don't  want  one,"  said  the  steward,  fiercely ; 
"  don't  you  try  none  o'  your  larks  on  me,  Nathan 
Smith,  cos  I  won't  have  it." 

149 


At   Sunwich  Port 

"  Lord  love  your  'art,"  said  the  boarding-master, 
"  I  wouldn't  'urt  you.  I'm  on'y  acting  under  your 
orders  now;  yours  and  the  captin's.  It  ain't  in  my 
reg'lar  way  o'  business  at  ail,  but  I'm  so  good- 
natured  I  can't  say  '  no.'  " 

"  Can't  say  *  no  '  to  five  pounds,  you  mean,"  re- 
torted Mr.  Wilks,  who  by  no  means  relished  these 
remarks. 

"If  I  was  getting  as  much  out  of  it  as  you  are 
I'd  be  a  'appy  man,"  sighed  Mr.  Smith. 

"  Me  !  "  cried  the  other  ;  "  do  you  think  I'd  take 
money  for  this — why,  I'd  sooner  starve,  I'd  sooner. 
Wot  are  you  a-tapping  your  nose  for?  " 

"Was  I  tapping  it?  "  demanded  Mr.  Smith,  in 
surprise.  "  Well,  I  didn't  know  it.  I'm  glad  you 
told  me." 

"  You're  quite  welcome,"  said  the  steward,  sharply. 
"  Crimping  ain't  in  my  line  ;  I'd  sooner  sweep  the 
roads." 

"  'Ear,  'ear,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Smith,  approvingly. 
"Ah!  wot  a  thing  it  is  to  come  aerost  an  honest 
man.     Wot  a  good  thing  it  is  for  the  eyesight." 

He  stared  stonily  somewhere  in  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Wilks,  and  then  blinking  rapidly  shielded  his 
eyes  with  his  hand  as  though  overcome  by  the  sight 
of  so  much  goodness.  The  steward's  wrath  rose  at 
the  performance,  and  he  glowered  back  at  him  until 
his  eyes  watered. 

150 


At  Sunwich   Port 

**  Twenty  past  six,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  suddenly, 
as  he  fumbled  in  his  waistcoat-pocket  and  drew  CHit 
a  small  folded  paper.  "  It's  time  I  made  a  start. 
I  s'pose  you've  got  some  salt  in  the  house  ? " 

"  Plenty,"  said  Mr.  Wilks. 

"  And  beer  ?  "  i;iquired  the  other. 

"  Yes,  there  is  some  beer,"  said  the  steward. 

"  Bring  me  a  quart  of  it,"  said  the  boarding-mas- 
ter, slowly  and  impressively.  "  I  want  it  drawed  in 
a  china  mug,  with  a  nice  foaming  'ead  on  it." 

"  Wot  do  you  want  it  for?  "  inquired  Mr.  Wiiks, 
eyeing  him  very  closely. 

"  Bisness  purposes,"  said  Mr.  Smith.  "  If  you're 
very  good  you  shall  see  'ow  I  do  it." 

Still  the  steward  made  no  move.  "  I  thought 
you  brought  the  stuff  with  you,"  he  remarked. 

Mr.  Smith  looked  at  him  with  mild  reproach. 
"  Are  you  managing  this  affair  or  am  I  ?  "  he  in- 
quired. 

The  steward  went  out  reluctantly,  and  drawing  a 
quart  mug  of  beer  set  it  down  on  the  table  and  stood 
watching  his  visitor. 

"  And  now  I  want  a  spoonful  o'  sugar,  a  spoonfiil 
o'  salt,  and  a  spoonful  o'  vinegar,"  said  Mr.  Smith. 
"  Make  haste  afore  the  'ead  goes  off  of  it." 

Mr.  Wilks  withdrew  grumbling,  and  came  back 
in  a  wonderfully  short  space  of  time  considering, 
with  the  articles  required. 

151 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"Thankee,"  said  the  other;  "you  'ave  been 
quick.  I  wish  I  could  move  as  quick  as  you  do. 
But  you  can  take  'em  back  now,  I  find  I  can  do 
without  'em." 

"  Where's  the  beer  ?  "  demanded  the  incensed 
Mr.  Wilks ;  "  where's  the  beer,  you  underhanded 
swab  ? " 

"  I  altered  my  mind,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  "  and  not 
liking  waste,  and  seeing  by  your  manner  that  you've 
'ad  more  than  enough  already  to-night,  I  drunk  it. 
There  isn't  another  man  in  Sunwich  I  could  ha' 
played  that  trick  on,  no,  nor  a  boy  neither." 

Mr.  Wilks  was  about  to  speak,  but,  thinking 
better  of  it,  threw  the  three  spoons  in  the  kitchen, 
and  resuming  his  seat  by  the  fire  sat  with  his  back 
half  turned  to  his  visitor. 

"  Bright,  cheerful  young  chap,  'e  is,"  said  Mr. 
Smith ;  "  you've  knowed  'im  ever  since  he  was  a 
baby,  haven't  you  ?  " 

Mr.  Wilks  made  no  reply. 

"  The  Conqueror  s  sailing  to-morrow  morning, 
too,"  continued  his  tormentor ;  "  his  father's  old 
ship.  'Ow  strange  it'll  seem  to  'im  following  it  out 
aboard  a  whaler.  Life  is  full  o'  surprises,  Mr. 
Wilks,  and  wot  a  big  surprise  it  would  be  to  you  if 
you  could  'ear  wot  he  says  about  you  when  he  comes 
to  'is  senses." 

"  I'm  obeying  orders,"  growled  the  other. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Quite  right,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  approvingly,  as 
he  drew  a  bottle  of  whisky  from  his  bag  and  placed 
it  on  the  table.  "  Two  glasses  and  there  we  are. 
We  don't  want  any  salt  and  vinegar  this  time." 

Mr.  Wilks  turned  a  deaf  ear.  "  But  'ow  are  you 
going  to  manage  so  as  to  make  one  silly  and  not  the 
other  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"It's  a  trade  secret,"  said  the  other;  "but  I 
don't  mind  telling  you  I  sent  the  cap'n  something 
to  take  afore  he  comes,  and  I  shall  be  in  your 
kitchen  looking  arter  things." 

"I  s'pose  you  know  wot  you're  about?"  said 
Mr.  Wilks,  doubtfully. 

"  I  s'pose  so,"  rejoined  the  other.  "  Young  Nu- 
gent trusts  you,  and,  of  course,  he'll  take  anything 
from  your  'ouse.  That's  the  beauty  of  'aving  a 
character,  Mr.  Wilks;  a  good  character  and  a  face 
like  a  baby  with  grey  whiskers." 

Mr.  Wilks  bent  down  and,  taking  up  a  small 
brush,  carefully  tidied  up  the  hearth. 

"  Like  as  not,  if  my  part  in  it  gets  to  be  known," 
pursued  Mr.  Smith,  mournfully, "  I'll  *ave  that  gal 
of  Kybird's  scratching  my  eyes  out  or  p'r'aps  stick- 
ing a  hat-pin  into  me.  I  had  that  once  ;  the  longest 
hat-pin  that  ever  was  made,  I  should  think." 

He  shook  his  head  over  the  perils  of  his  calling, 
and  then,  after  another  glance  at  the  clock,  withdrew 
to  the  kitchen  with  his  bag,  leaving  Mr.  Wilks  wait- 

153 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ing  in  a  state  of  intense  nervousness-  for  the  arrival 
of  the  others. 

Captain  Nugent  was  the  first  to  put  in  an  appear- 
ance, and  by  way  of  setting  a  good  example  poured 
a  little  of  the  whisky  in  his  glass  and  sat  there  wait- 
ing. Then  Jack  Nugent  came  in,  fresh  and  glowing, 
and  Mr.  Wilks,  after  standing  about  helplessly  for 
a  few  moments,  obeyed  the  captain's  significant  nod 
and  joined  Mr.  Smith  in  the  kitchen. 

"You'd  better  go  for  a  walk,"  said  that  gentle- 
man, regarding  him  kindly  ;  "  that's  wot  the  cap'n 
thought." 

Mr.  Wilks  acquiesced  eagerly,  and  tapping  at  the 
door  passed  through  the  room  again  into  the  street. 
A  glance  as  he  went  through  showed  him  that  Jack 
Nugent  was  drinking,  and  he  set  off  in  a  panic  to  get 
aN^ay  from  the  scene  which  he  had  contrived. 

He  slackened  after  a  time  and  began  to  pace  the 
streets  at  a  rate  which  was  less  noticeable.  As  he 
passed  the  Kybirds'  he  shivered,  and  it  was  not  until 
he  had  consumed  a  pint  or  two  of  the  strongest  brew 
procurable  at  the  Two  Schooners  that  he  began  to 
regain  some  of  his  old  self-esteem.  He  felt  almost 
maudlin  at  the  sacrifice  of  character  he  was  enduring 
for  the  sake  of  his  old  master,  and  the  fact  that  he 
could  not  narrate  it  to  sympathetic  friends  was  not 
the  least  of  his  troubles. 

The  shops  had  closed  by  the  time  he  got  into  the 
154 


At  Sunvvich  Port 

srreet  again,  and  he  walked  down  and  watched  with 
much  solemnity  the  reflection  of  the  quay  lamps  in 
the  dark  water  of  the   harbour.     The  air  was  keen 


"It  was  not  until  he  had  consumed  a  pint  or  two  of  the  strongest  brew  that  he 
began  to  regain  some  of  hit  old  self-esteem." 

and  the  various  craft  distinct  In  the  starlight.  Perfect 
quiet  reigned  aboard  the  Seal^ird,  and  after  a  vain 
attempt  to  screw  up  his  courage  to  see  the  victim 

155 


At  Sunwich  Port 

taken  aboard  he  gave  it  up  and  walked  back  along 
the  beach. 

By  the  time  he  turned  his  steps  homewards  it  was 
nearly  eleven  o'clock.  Fullalove  Alley  was  quiet, 
and  after  listening  for  some  time  at  his  window  he 
turned  the  handle  of  the  door  and  passed  in.  The 
nearly  empty  bottle  stood  on  the  table,  and  an  over- 
turned tumbler  accounted  for  a  large,  dark  patch  on 
the  table-cloth.  As  he  entered  the  room  the  kitchen 
door  opened  and  Mr.  Nathan  Smith,  with  a  broad 
smile  on  his  face,  stepped  briskly  in. 

"All  over,"  he  said,  rubbing  his  hands  ;  "he  went 
off  like  a  lamb,  no  trouble  nor  fighting.  He  was  a 
example  to  all  of  us." 

"  Did  the  cap'n  see  'im  aboard  ?  "  inquired  Mr. 
Wilks. 

"  Certainly  not,"  said  the  other.  "  As  a  matter  o* 
fact  the  cap'n  took  a  little  more  than  I  told  'im  to 
take,  and  I  'ad  to  help  'im  up  to  your  bed.  Acci- 
dents will  'appen,  but  he'll  be  all  right  in  the  morn- 
ing if  nobody  goes  near  *im.  Leave  'im  perfectly 
quiet,  and  when  'e  comes  downstairs  give  'im  a 
strong  cup  o'  tea." 

"  In  my  bed?  "  repeated  the  staring  Mr.  Wilks. 

"  He's  as  right  as  rain,"  said  the  boarding  mas-' 
ten  "I  brought  down  a  pillow  and  blankets  for  you 
and  put  'em  in  the  kitchen.  And  now  I'll  take 
the  other  two  pound  ten  and  be  getting  off  'ome. 

156 


At  Sunwich  Port 

It  ought  to  be  ten  pounds  really  with  the  trouble 
I've  'ad." 

Mr.  Wilks  laid  the  desired  amount  on  the  table-, 
and  Mr.  Nathan  Smith  placing  it  in  his  pocket  rose 
to  go. 

"  Don't  disturb  'im  till  he's  'ad  'is  sleep  out,, 
mind,"  he  said,  pausing  at  the  door,  "  else  I  can't 
answer  for  the  consequences.  If 'e  should  get  up  in 
the  night  and  come  down  raving  mad,  try  and  soothe 
'im.     Good-night  and  pleasant  dreams." 

He  closed  the  door  after  him  quietly,  and  the 
horrified  steward,  after  fetching  the  bed-clothes  on. 
tiptoe  from  the  kitchen,  locked  the  door  which  led 
to  the  staircase,  and  after  making  up  a  bed  on  the 
floor  lay  down  in  his  clothes  and  tried  to  get  to  sleep. 

He  dozed  off  at  last,  but  woke  up  several  times 
during  the  night  with  the  cold.  The  lamp  burnt 
itself  out,  and  in  the  dark  he  listened  intently  for  any 
sounds  of  life  in  the  room  above.  Then  he  fell 
asleep  again,  until  at  about  half-past  seven  in  the 
morning  a  loud  crash  overhead  awoke  him  with  a. 
start. 

In  a  moment  he  was  sitting  up  with  every  faculty 
on  the  alert.  Footsteps  blundered  about  in  the 
room  above,  and  a  large  and  rapidly  widening  patch 
of  damp  showed  on  the  ceiling.  It  was  evident 
that  the  sleeper,  in  his  haste  to  quench  an  abnormal 
thirst,  had  broken  the  water-jug. 

157 


At  Sunw^ch  Port 

Mr;  Wilks,  shivering  with  dread,  sprang  to  his 
feet  and  stood  irresolute.  Judging  by  the  noise,  the 
captain   was   evidently   in   a  fine  temper,  and    Mr. 


**  The  man  on  the  other  ndc  fell  on  all  fours  into  die  room." 

Smith's  remarks  about  insanity  occurred  to  him 
with  redoubled  interest.  Then  he  heard  a  hoarse 
shout,  the  latch  of  the  bedroom  door  clicked,  and 

158 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  prisoner  stumbled  heavily  downstairs  and  began 
to  fumble  at  the  handle  of  the  door  at  the  bottom. 
Trembling  with  excitement  Mr.  Wilks  dashed  for- 
ward and  turned  the  key,  and  then  retreating  to  the 
street  door  prepared  for  instant  fl^ht. 

He  opened  the  door  so  suddenly  that  the  man 
on  the  other  side,  with  a  sudden  cry,  fell  on  all -fours 
into  the  room,  and  raising  his  face  stared  stupidly  at 
the  steward.  Mr.  Wilks's  hands  dropped  to  his 
sides  and  his  tongue  refused  its  office,  for  in  some 
strange  fashion,  quite  in  keeping  with  the  lawless 
proceedings  of  the  previous  night.  Captain  Nugent 
had  changed  into  a  most  excellent  likeness  of  his 
own  son. 


19 


CHAPTER   XII 

FOR  some  time  Mr.  Wilks  stood  gazing  at 
this  unexpected  apparition  and  trying  to  col- 
lect his  scattered  senses.  Its  face  was  pale 
and  flabby,  while  its  glassy  eyes,  set  in  rims  of  red 
eyelids,  were  beginning  to  express  unmistakable  signs 
of  suspicion  and  wrath.  The  shock  was  so  sudden 
that  the  steward  could  not  even  think  coherently. 
Was  the  captain  upstairs  ?  And  if  so,  what  was  his 
condition  ?  Where  was  Nathan  Smith  ?  And  where 
was  the  five  pounds  ? 

A  voice,  a  husky  and  discordant  voice,  broke  in 
upon  his  meditations;  Jack  Nugent  was  also  curious. 

"  What  does  all  this  mean  ? "  he  demanded,  an- 
grily.    "  How  did  I  get  here  ?  ** 

"You — you  came  downstairs,"  stammered  Mr. 
Wilks,  still  racking  his  brains  in  the  vain  effort  to 
discover  how  matters  stood. 

Mr.  Nugent  was  about  to  speak,  but,  thinking 
better  of  it,  turned  and  blundered  into  the  kitchen. 
Sounds  of  splashing  and  puffing  ensued,  and  the 
steward  going  to  the  door  saw  him  with  his  head 
under  the  tap.     He  followed  him  in  and  at  the  right 

i6o 


At  Sunwich  Port' 

time  handed  him  a  towel.  Despite  the  disordered 
appearance  of  his  hair  the  improvement  in  Mr.  Nu- 
gent's  condition  was  so  manifest  that  the  steward, 
hoping  for  similar  results,  turned  the  tap  on  again 
and  followed  his  example. 

"  Your  head  wants  cooling,  I  should  think,"  said 
the  young  man,  returning  him  the  towel.  "  What's 
it  all  about  ?  " 

Mr.  Wilks  hesitated ;  a  bright  thought  occurred 
to  him,  and  murmuring  something  about  a  dry  towel 
he  sped  up  the  narrow  stairs  to  his  bedroom.  The 
captain  was  not  there.  He  pushed  open  the  small 
lattice  window  and  peered  out  into  the  alley  ;  no  sign 
of  either  the  captain  or  the  ingenious  Mr.  Nathan 
Smith.  With  a  heavy  heart  he  descended  the  stairs 
again. 

"  Now,"  said  Mr.  Nugent,  who  was  sitting  down 
with  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  "  perhaps  you'll  be 
good  enough  to  explain  what  all  this  means." 

"  You  were  'ere  last  night,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  "  you 
and  the  cap'n.'* 

"  I  know  that,"  said  Nugent.  "  How  is  it  I 
didn't  go  home  ?  I  didn't  understand  that  it  was 
an  all-night  invitation.     Where  is  my  father?  " 

The  steward  shook  his  head  helplessly.  "He 
was  'ere  when  I  went  out  last  night,"  he  said,  slowly. 
**  When  I  came  back  the  room  was  empty  and  I  was 
told  as  'e  was  upstairs  in  my  bed." 

x6i 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  Told  he  was  in  your  bed?"  repeated  the  other. 
Who  told  you  ?  " 


•*He  pushed  open  the  small  lattice  window  and  peered  out  into  the  alley." 

Mr.  Wilks  caught  his  breath.  "  I  mean  I  told 
myself  'e  was  in  my  bed,"  he  stammered,  "  because 
when  I  came  in  I  see  these  bed-clothes  on  the  floor, 

1 6a 


At  Sunwich  Port 

«n'  I  thought  as  the  cap'n  'ad  put  them  there  for 
me  and  taken  my  bed  'imself." 

Mr.  Nugent  regarded  the  Htter  of  bed-clothes  as 
though  hoping  that  they  would  throw  a  little  light 
on  the  affair,  and  then  shot  a  puzzled  glance  at  Mr. 
Wilks. 

"  Why  should  you  think  my  father  wanted  your 
bed?  "  he  inquired. 

"  I  don't  know,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  thought 
p'r'aps  'e'd  maybe  taken  a  little  more  than  'e  ought 
to  have  taken.  But  it's  all  a  myst'ry  to  me.  I'm 
more  astonished  than  wot  you  are." 

"  Well,  I  can't  make  head  or  tail  of  it,"  said  Nu- 
gent, rising  and  pacing  the  room.  "  I  came  here 
to  meet  my  father.  So  far  as  I  remember  I  had 
one  drink  of  whisky — your  whisky — ^and  then  I 
woke  up  in  your  bedroom  with  a  splitting  headache 
and  a  tongue  like  a  piece  of  leather.  Can  you  ac- 
count for  it  ?  " 

Mr.  Wilks  shook  his  head  again.  "  I  wasn't 
here,"  he  said,  plucking  up  courage.  "  Why  not 
go  an'  see  your  father  ?  Seems  to  me  'e  is  the  one 
that  would  know  most  about  it." 

Mr.  Nugent  stood  for  a  minute  considering,  and 
then  raising  the  latch  of  the  door  opened  it  slowly 
and  inhaled  the  cold  morning  air.  A  subtle  and 
delicate  aroma  of  coffee  and  herrings  which  had 
escaped  iirom  neighbouring  breakfast-tables  invaded 

163 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  room  and  reminded  him  of  an  appetite.  He 
turned  to  go,  but  had  barely  quitted  the  step  before 
he  saw  Mrs.  Kingdom  and  his  sister  enter  the  alley. 

Mr.  Wilks  saw  them  too,  and,  turning  if  anything 
a  shade  paler,  supported  himself  by  the  door-post. 
Kate  Nugent  quickened  her  pace  as  she  saw  them, 
and,  after  a  surprised  greeting  to  her  brother,  breath- 
lessly informed  him  that  the  captain  was  missing. 

"  Hasn't  been  home  all  night,"  panted  Mrs.  King- 
dom, joining  them.     "  I  don't  know  what  to  think." 

They  formed  an  excited  little  group  round  the 
steward's  door,  and  Mr.  Wilks,  with  an  instinctive 
feeling  that  the  matter  was  one  to  be  discussed  in 
private,  led  the  way  indoors.  He  began  to  apolo- 
gize for  the  disordered  condition  of  the  room,  but 
Jack  Nugent,  interrupting  him  brusquely,  began  to 
relate  his  own  adventures  of  the  past  few  hours. 

Mrs.  Kingdom  listened  to  the  narrative  with  un- 
expected calmness.  She  knew  the  cause  of  her 
nephew's  discomfiture.  It  was  the  glass  of  whisky 
acting  on  a  system  unaccustomed  to  alcohol,  and  she 
gave  a  vivid  and  moving  account  of  the  effects  of  a 
stiff  glass  of  hot  rum  which  she  had  once  taken  for 
a  cold.  It  was  quite  clear  to  her  that  the  captain 
had  put  his  son  to  bed ;  the  thing  to  discover  now 
was  where  he  had  put  himself. 

"  Sam  knows  something  about  it,"  said  her 
nephew,  darkly  ;  "  there's  something  wrong." 

164 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  I  know  no  more  than  a  babe  unborn,"  declared 
Mr.  Wilks.  "  The  last  I  see  of  the  cap'n  'e  was 
a-sitting  at  this  table  opposite  you." 

"  Sam  wouldn't  hurt  a  fly,"  said  Miss  Nugent, 
with  a  kind  glance  at  her  favourite. 

"  Well,  where  is  the  governor,  then  ? "  Inquired 
her  brother.  "  Why  didn't  he  go  home  last  night  ? 
He  has  never  stayed  out  before." 

"Yes,  he  has,"  said  Mrs.  Kingdom,  folding  her 
hands  in  her  lap.  "  When  you  were  children.  He 
came  home  at  half-past  eleven  next  morning,  and 
when  I  asked  him  where  he'd  been  he  nearly  bit  my 
head  off.  I'd  been  walking  the  floor  all  night,  and 
I  shall  never  forget  his  remarks  when  he  opened  the 
door  to  the  police,  who'd  come  to  say  they  couldn't 
find  him.     Never." 

A  ghostly  grin  flitted  across  the  features  of  Mr. 
Wilks,  but  he  passed  the  back  of  his  hand  across  his 
mouth  and  became  serious  again  as  he  thought  of  his 
position.  He  was  almost  dancing  with  anxiety  to 
get  away  to  Mr.  Nathan  Smith  and  ask  for  an  ex- 
planation of  the  proceedings  of  the  night  before. 

"  I'll  go  and  have  a  look  round  for  the  cap'n," 
he  said,  eagerly  ;  "  he  can't  be  far." 

"  I'll  come  with  you,"  said  Nugent.  "  I  should 
like  to  see  him  too.  There  are  one  or  two  little 
things  that  want  explaining.  You  take  aunt  home, 
Kate,  and  I'll  follow  on  as  soon  as  there  is  any  news." 

165 


At  Sunwich  Port 

As  he  spoke  the  door  opened  a  little  way  and  a 
head  appeared,  only  to  be  instantly  withdrawn  at 
the  sight  of  so  many  people.  Mr.  Wilks  stepped 
forward  hastily,  and  throwing  the  door  wide  open 
revealed  the  interesting  features  of  Mr.  Nathan 
Smith. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Wilks  ?  "  said  that  gen- 
tleman, softly.  "  I  just  walked  round  to  see  whether 
you  was  in.  I've  got  a  message  for  you.  I  didn't 
know  you'd  got  company." 

He  stepped  into  the  room  and,  tapping  the  stew- 
ard on  the  chest  with  a  confidential  finger,  backed 
him  into  a  corner,  and  having  got  him  there  gave  an 
expressive  wink  with  one  eye  and  gazed  into  space 
with  the  other. 

"  I  thought  you'd  be  alone,"  he  said,  looking 
round,  "  but  p'r'aps  it's  just  as  well  as  it  is.     They've 

got  to  know,  so  they  may  as  well  know  now  as  later 

>> 
on. 

"  Know  what  ?  "  inquired  Jack  Nugent,  abruptly. 
"  What  are  you  making  that  face  for,  Sam .?  " 

Mr.  Wilks  mumbled  something  about  a  decayed 
tooth,  and  to  give  colour  to  the  statement  continued 
a  series  of  contortions  which  made  his  face  ache. 

"  You  should  take  something  for  that  tooth,"  said 
the  boarding-master,  with  great  solicitude.  "  Wot 
do  you  say  to  a  glass  o'  whisky  ? " 

He  motioned  to  the  fatal  bottle,  which  still  stojod 
i66 


At  Sunwich  Port 

on  the  table ;  the  steward  caught  his   breath,  and 
then,  rising  to  the  occasion,  said  that  he  had  already 


"  Tapping  th»  steward  on  the  chest  with  »  confidential  finger,  he  backed  him  into 
a  corner/* 

had  a  couple  of  glasses,  and  they  had'  done  no 
good. 

"  What's  your  message  ?  "  inquired  Jack  Nugent, 
impatiently. 

"  I'm  just  going  to  tell  you,"  said  Mr.  Smith. 
*'  I  was  out  early  this  morning,  strolling  down  bjf 

167 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  harbour  to  get  a  little  appetite  for  breakfast, 
when  who  should  I  see  coming  along,  looking  as 
though  'e  'ad  just  come  from  a  funeral,  but  Cap'n 
Nugent  1  I  was  going  to  pass  'im,  but  he  stopped 
me  and  asked  me  to  take  a  message  from  'im  to  'is 
old  and  faithful  steward,  Mr.  Wilks." 

"  Why,  has  he  gone  away  ? "  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Kingdom. 

"  His  old  and  faithful  steward,"  repeated  Mr. 
Smith,  motioning  her  to  silence,  "  *  Tell  'im,'  he 
says,  *  that  I  am  heartily  ashamed  of  myself  for  wot 
took  place  last  night — and  him,  too.  Tell  'im  that, 
after  my  father's  'art  proved  too  much  for  me,  I 
walked  the  streets  all  night,  and  now  I  can't  face 
my  injured  son  and  family  yet  awhile,  and  I'm  off 
to  London  till  it  has  blown  over.' " 

"  But  what's  it  all  about  ? "  demanded  Nugent. 
"  Why  don't  you  get  to  the  point  ?  " 

"  So  far  as  I  could  make  out,"  replied  Mr.  Smith, 
with  the  studious  care  of  one  who  desires  to  give 
exact  information,  "  Cap'n  Nugent  and  Mr.  Wilks 
'ad  a  little  plan  for  giving  you  a  sea  blow." 

"  Me  ? "  interrupted  the  unfortunate  steward. 
"  Now,  look  'ere,  Nathan  Smith " 

**  Them  was  the  cap'n's  words,"  said  the  board- 
ing-master, giving  him  a  glance  of  great  significance  ; 
"  are  you  going  to  take  away  or  add  to  wot  the  cap'n 

i68 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Mr.  Wilks  collapsed,  and  avoiding  the  indignant 
eyes  of  the  Nugent  family  tried  to  think  out  his 
position. 

"  It  seems  from  wot  the  cap'n  told  me,"  continued 
Mr.  Smith,  "  that  there  was  some  objection  to  your 
marrying  old — Mr.  Kybird's  gal,  so  'e  and  Mr. 
Wilks,  after  putting  their  'eads  together,  decided  to 
get  you  'ere  and  after  giving  you  a  little  whisky  that 
Mr.  Wilks  knows  the  trick  of " 

"  Me  ?  "  interrupted  the  unfortunate  steward, 
again. 

"  Them  was  the  cap'n's  words,"  said  Mr.  Smith, 
coldly.  "  After  you'd  *ad  it  they  was  going  to  stow 
you  away  in  the  Seabird,  which  sailed  this  morning. 
However,  when  the  cap'n  see  you  overcome,  his  'art 
melted,  and  instead  o'  putting  you  aboard  the  whaler 
he  took  your  feet  and  Mr.  Wilks  your  *ead,  and 
after  a  great  deal  o'  trouble  got  you  upstairs  and  put 
you  to  bed." 

"You  miserable  scoundrel,"  said  the  astonished 
Mr.  Nugent,  addressing  the  shrinking  steward ; 
**  you  infernal  old  reprobate — you — you — I  didn't 
think  you'd  got  it  in  you." 

"  So  far  as  I  could  make  out,"  said  Mr.  Smith, 
kindly,  "  Mr.  Wilks  was  only  obeying  orders.  It 
was  the  cap'n's  plan,  and  Mr.  Wilks  was  aboard 
ship  with  'im  for  a  very  long  time.  O*  course,  he 
oughtn't  to  ha'  done  it,  but  the  cap'n's  a  masterful 

169 


At  Sunwich  Port 

mj*»,  an*  I  can  quite  understand  Mr.  Wilks  givin* 
way  ;  I  dessay  I  should  myself  if  I'd  been  in  'is 
place — he's  all  'art,  is  Mr.  Wilks — no  'ead." 

"It's  a  good  job  for  you  you're  an  old  man, 
Sam,"  said  Mr.  Nugent. 

"  I  can  hardly  believe  it  of  you,  Sam,"  said  Miss 
Nugent.  "  I  can  hardly  think  you  could  have  been 
so  deceitful.     Why,  we've  trusted  you  all  our  lives." 

The  unfortunate  steward  quailed  beneath  the 
severity  of  her  glance.  Even  if  he  gave  a  fiill  ac- 
count of  the  affair  it  would  not  make  his  position 
better.  It  was  he  who  had  made  all  the  arrange- 
ments with  Mr.  Smith,  and  after  an  indignant  glance 
at  that  gentleman  he  lowered  his  gaze  and  remained 
silent. 

"It  is  rather  odd  that  my  father  should  take  you 
mto  his  confidence,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  turning  to 
the  boarding-master. 

"  Just  wot  I  thought,  miss,"  said  the  complaisant 
Mr.  Smith ;  "  but  I  s'pose  there  was  nobody  else, 
and  he  wanted  'is  message  to  go  for  fear  you  should 
get  worrying  the  police  about  'im  or  something. 
He  wants  it  kep'  quiet,  and  'is  last  words  to  me  as 
'e  left  me  was,  'If  this  affair  gets  known  I  ^sha'S 
never  come  back.     Tell  'em  to  keep  it  quiet.' ' 

"  I  don't  think  anybody  will  want  to  go  bragging 
about  it,"  said  Jack  Nugent,  rising,  "  unless  it  is 
Sam  Wilks.     Come  along,  Kate." 

170 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Miss  Nugent  followed  him  obediently,  Oi  ly  paus- 
ing at  the  door  to  give  a  last  glance  of  min^ipd  sur- 
prise and  reproach  at  Mr.  Wilks.  Then  thcf  were 
outside  and  the  door  closed  behind  them. 

"  Well,  that's  all  right,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  easily. 

"  All  right !  "  vociferated  the  steward.  "Wot  did 
you  put  it  all  on  to  me  for  ?  Why  didn't  you  tell 
*em  your  part  in  it  ?  " 

"  Wouldn't  ha'  done  any  good,"  said  Mr.  Smith ; 
"  wouldn't  ha'  done  you  any  good.  Besides,  I  did 
just  wot  the  cap'n  told  me." 

"  When's  he  coming  back?  "  inquired  the  steward. 

Mr.  Smith  shook  his  head.  "  Couldn't  say,"  he 
returned.  "He  couldn't  say  'imself.  Between  you 
an'  me,  I  expect  'e's  gone  up  to  have  a  reg'lar  fair 
spree." 

"  Why  did  you  tell  me  last  night  he  was  up- 
stairs ?  "  inquired  the  other. 

"  Cap'n's  orders,"  repeated  Mr.  Smith,  with  relish. 
"  Ask  'im,  not  me.  As  a  matter  o*  fact,  he  spent 
the  night  at  my  place  and  went  off  this  morning." 

"  An'  wot  about  the  five  pounds  ?  "  inquired  Mr. 
Wilks,  spitefully.     "  You  ain't  earned  it." 

"  I  know  I  ain't,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  mournfully. 
"  That's  wot's  worrying  me.  It's  like  a  gnawing 
pain  in  my  side.  D'you  think  it's  conscience  biting 
of  me  ?  I  never  felt  it  before.  Or  d'ye  think  it's 
sorro'w  to  think  that  I've  done  the  whole  job  too 

l*7< 


At  Sunwich  Port 

cheap  ?     You  think,  it  out  and  let  me  know  later  on. 
So  long." 

He  waved  his  hand  cheerily  to  the  steward  and 
departed.  Mr.  Wilks  threw  himself  into  a  chair 
and,  ignoring  the  cold  and  the  general  air  of  desola- 
tion of  his  best  room,  gave  way  to  a  fit  of  melan- 
choly which  would  have  made  Mr.  Edward  Silk 
green  with  envy. 


Iff 


CHAPTER    XIII 

DAYS  passed,  but  no  word  came  from  the 
missing  captain,  and  only  the  determined 
opposition  of  Kate  Nugent  kept  her  aunt 
from  advertising  in  the  "  Agony  "  columns  of  the 
London  Press.  Miss  Nugent  was  quite  as  desirous 
of  secrecy  in  the  affair  as  her  father,  and  it  was  a 
source  of  great  annoyance  to  her  when,  in  some 
mysterious  manner,  it  leaked  out.  In  a  very  short 
time  the  news  was  common  property,  and  Mr. 
Wilks,  appearing  to  his  neighbours  in  an  entirely 
new  character,  was  besieged  for  information. 

His  own  friends  were  the  most  tiresome,  their  open 
admiration  of  his  lawlessness  and  their  readiness  to 
trace  other  mysterious  disappearances  to  his  agency 
being  particularly  galling  to  a  man  whose  respecta- 
bility formed  his  most  cherished  possession.  Other 
people  regarded  the  affair  as  a  joke,  and  he  sat  gaz- 
ing round-eyed  one  evening  at  the  Two  Schooners 
at  the  insensible  figures  of  three  men  >yho  had  each 
had  a  modest  half-pint  at  his  expense.  It  was  a 
pretty  conceit  and  well  played,  but  the  steward, 
owing  to  the  frenzied  efforts  of  one  of  the  sleepers 

173 


At  Sunwich  Port 

whom  he  had  awakened  with  a  quart  pot,  did  not 
stay  to  admire  it.  He  finished  up  the  evening  at 
the  Chequers,  and  after  getting  wet  through  on  the 


••He  finiehed  up  the  evening  at  the  Chequers." 

way  home  fell  asleep  in  his  wet  clothes   before  the 
dying  fire. 

He  awoke  with  a  bad  cold  and  pains  in  the  limbs. 
A  headache  was  not  unexpected,  but  the  other  symp- 

174 


At  Sunwich  Port 

•toms  were.  With  trembling  hands  he  managed  to 
light  a  fire  and  prepare  a  breakfast,  which  he  left 
untouched.  This  last  symptom  was  the  most  alarm- 
ing of  all,  and  going  to  the  door  he  bribed  a  small 
boy  with  a  penny  to  go  for  Dr.  Murchison,  and  sat 
cowering  over  the  fire  until  he  came. 

"  Well,  you've  got  a  bad  cold,"  said  the  doctor, 
after  examining  him.  "  You'd  better  get  to  bed  for 
the  present.     You'll  be  safe  there." 

"  Is  it  dangerous  ?  "  faltered  the  steward. 

"  And  keep  yourself  warm,"  said  the  doctor,  who 
was  not  in  the  habit  of  taking  his  patients  into  his 
confidence.     "  I'll  send  round  some  medicine." 

"  I  should  like  Miss  Nugent  to  know  I'm  bad," 
said  Mr.  Wilks,  in  a  weak  voice. 

"  She  knows  that,"  replied  Murchison.  "  She 
was  telling  me  about  you  the  other  day." 

He  put  his  hand  up  to  his  neat  black  moustache 
to  hide  a  smile,  and  met  the  steward's  indignant  gaze 
without  flinching. 

"  I  mean  ill,"  said  the  latter,  sharply. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  the  other.  "  Well,  you  get  to 
bed  now.     Good  morning." 

He  took  up  his  hat  and  stick  and  departed.  Mr. 
Wilks  sat  for  a  little  while  over  the  fire,  and  then, 
rising,  hobbled  slowly  upstairs  to  bed  and  forgot  his 
troubles  in  sleep. 

He  slept  until  the  afternoon,  and  then,  raising 
175 


At  Sunwich  Port 

himself  in  bed,  listened  to  the  sounds  of  stealthy 
sweeping  in  the  room  below.  Chairs  were  being 
fr^cved  about,  and  the  tinkle  of  ornaments  on  the 

mantelpiece  announced 
that  dusting  operations 
were  in  progress.  He 
lay  down  again  with  a 
satisfied  smile ;  it  was 
like  a  tale  in  a  story- 
book :  the  faithful  old 
servant  and  his  master's 
daughter.  He  closed 
his  eyes  as  he  heard 
her  coming  upstairs. 

'*  Ah,  pore  dear," 
said  a  voice. 

Mr.  Wilks  opened 
his  eyes  sharply  and 
beheld  the  meagre  fig- 
ure of  Mrs.  Silk.  In 
one  hand  she  held  a 
medicine-bottle  and  a 
glass  and  in  the  other 

"The  meagre  figure  of  Mrs.  Silk."  ^^^^^  ^^^  fireWOOd. 

«  I  only  'eard  of  it  half  an  hour  ago,"  she  said,  re- 
proachfully. "  I  saw  the  doctor's  boy,  and  I  left 
my  work  and  came  over  at  once.     Why  didn't  you 

let  me  know  ?  " 

176 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Mr.  Wilks  muttered  that  he  didn't  know,  and  lay 
crossly  regarding  his  attentive  neighbour  as  she  knelt 
down  and  daintily  lit  the  fire.  This  task  finished, 
she  proceeded  to  make  the  room  tidy,  and  then  set 
about  making  beef-tea  in  a  little  saucepan. 

"  You  lay  still  and  get  well,"  she  remarked,  with 
tender  playfulness.  "  That's  all  you've  got  to  do. 
Me  and  Teddy'll  look  after  you." 

"  I  couldn't  think  of  troubling  you/'  said  the 
steward,  earnestly. 

"  It's  no  trouble,"  was  the  reply.  "  You  don't 
think  I'd  leave  you  here  alone  helpless,  do  you  ?  " 

"  I  was  going  to  send  for  old  Mrs.  Jackson  if  I 
didn't  get  well  to-day,"  said  Mr.  Wilks. 

Mrs.  Silk  shook  her  head  at  him,  and,  after  punch- 
ing up  his  pillow,  took  an  easy  chair  by  the  fire  and 
sat  there  musing.  Mr.  Edward  Silk  came  in  to  tea, 
and,  after  remarking  that  Mr.  Wilks  was  very  flushed 
and  had  got  a  nasty  look  about  the  eyes  and  a  cough 
which  he  didn't  like,  fell  to  discoursing  on  death- 
beds. 

"  Good  nursing  is  the  principal  thing,"  said  his 
mother.  "  I  nursed  my  pore  dear  'usband  all  through 
his  last  illness.  He  couldn't  bear  me  to  be  out  of 
the  room.  I  nursed  my  mother  right  up  to  the  last, 
and  your  pore  Aunt  Jane  went  off  in  my  arms." 

Mr.  Wilks  raised  himself  on  his  elbow  and  his 
eyes  shone  feverishly  in  the  lamplight.     "  I  think 

177 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ril  get  a  *ospital  nurse   to-morrow,"  he  said,  de- 
cidedly. 

"  Nonsense,"  said  Mrs.  Silk.  "  It's  no  trouble 
to  me  at  all.      I  like  nursing ;  always  did." 

Mr.  Wilks  lay  back  again  and,  closing  his  eyes, 
determined  to  ask  the  doctor  to  provide  a  duly  quali- 
fied nurse  on  the  morrow.  To  his  disappointment, 
however,  the  doctor  failed  to  come,  and  although  he 
felt  much  better  Mrs.  Silk  sternly  negatived  a  desire 
on  his  part  to  get  up. 

"  Not  till  the  doctor's  been,"  she  said,  firmly.  "  I 
couldn't  think  of  it." 

"  I  don't  beHeve  there's  anything  the  matter  with 
me  now,"  he  declared. 

"  'Ow  odd — 'ow  very  odd  that  you  should  say 
that ! "  said  Mrs.  Silk,  clasping  her  hands. 

"  Odd  !  "  repeated  the  steward,  somewhat  crustily. 
"  How  do  you  mean — odd  ?  " 

"  They  was  the  very  last  words  my  Uncle  Benja- 
min ever  uttered  in  this  life,"  said  Mrs.  Silk,  with 
dramatic  impressiveness. 

The  steward  was  silent,  then,  with  the  ominous 
precedent  of  Uncle  Benjamin  before  him,  he  began 
to  talk  until  scores  of  words  stood  between  himself 
and  a  similar  ending. 

"  Teddy  asked  to  be  remembered  to  you  as  *e 
went  off  this  morning,"  said  Mrs.  Silk,  pausing  in 
her  labours  at  the  grate. 

178 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  I'm  much  obliged,"  muttered  the  invalid. 

"  He  didn't  'ave  time  to  come  in,"  pursued  the 
widow.  "  You  can  'ardlv  believe  what  a  lot  'e  thinks 
of  you,  Mr.  Wilks.  The  last  words  he  said  to  me 
was,  *  Let  me  know  at  once  if  there's  any  change.'  " 

Mr.  Wilks  distinctly  felt  a  cold,  clammy  sensa- 
tion down  his  spine  and  little  quivering  thrills  ran 
up  and  down  his  legs.  He  glared  indignantly  at  the 
back  of  the  industrious  Mrs.  Silk. 

*'  Teddy's  very  fond  of  you,"  continued  the  un- 
conscious woman.  "  I  s'pose  it's  not  'aving  a  father, 
but  he  seems  to  me  to  think  more  of  you  than  any- 
body else  in  the  wide,  wide  world.  I  get  quite  jeal- 
ous sometimes.  Only  the  other  day  I  said  to  'im, 
joking  like, '  Well,  you'd  better  go  and  live  with  *im 
if  you're  so  fond  of  'im,'  I  said." 

"  Ha,  ha ! "  laughed  Mr.  Wilks,  uneasily. 

"  You'll  never  guess  what  'e  said  then,"  said  Mrs. 
Silk,  dropping  her  dustpan  and  brush  and  gazing  at 
the  hearth. 

"  Said  'e  couldn't  leave  you,  I  s'pose,"  guessed 
the  steward,  gruffly. 

"  Well,  now,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Silk,  clapping  her 
hands,  "  if  you  'aven't  nearly  guessed  it.  Well, 
there  !  I  never  did  !  I  wouldn't  'ave  told  you  for 
anything  if  you  'adn't  said  that.  The  exact  words 
what   'e  did  say  was,  *  Not  without  you,  mother.'  " 

Mr.  Wilks  closed  his  eyes  with  a  snap  and  his 
179 


At  Sunwich  Port 

heart  turned  to  water.  He  held  his  breath  and  ran- 
sacked his  brain  in  vain  for  a  reply  which  should 
ignore  the  inner  meaning  of  the  fatal  words.  Some- 
thing careless  and  jocular  he  wanted,  combined  with 
a  voice  which  should  be  perfectly  under  control. 
Failing  these  things,  he  kept  his  eyes  closed,  and, 
very  wide-awake  indeed,  feigned  sleep.  He  slept 
straight  away  from  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning 
until  Edward  Silk  came  in  at  seven  o'clock  in  the 
evening. 

"  I  feel  like  a  new  man,"  he  said,  rubbing  his 
eyes  and  yawning. 

"  I  don't  see  no  change  in  your  appearance,"  said 
the  comforting  youth. 

"'E's  much  better,"  declared  his  mother.  "  That's 
what  comes  o*  good  nursing ;  some  nurses  would 
*ave  woke  'im  up  to  take  food,  but  I  just  let  'im  sleep 
on.     People  don't  feel  hunger  while  they're  asleep." 

She  busied  herself  over  the  preparation  of  a  basin 
of  arrowroot,  and  the  steward,  despite  his  distaste 
for  this  dish,  devoured  it  in  a  twinkling.  Beef-tea 
and  a  glass  of  milk  in  addition  failed  to  take  more 
than  the  edge  off  his  appetite. 

"  We  shall  pull  'im  through,"  said.  Mrs.  Silk, 
smiling,  as  she  put  down  the  empty  glass.  "  In  a 
fortnight  he'll  be  on  'is  feet." 

It  is  a  matter  of  history  that  Mr.  Wilks  was  on 
his  feet  at  five  o'clock   the  next  morning,  and  not 

1 80 


At  Sunwich  Port 

only  on  his  feet  but  dressed  and  ready  for  a  journey 
after  such  a  breakfast  as  he  had  not  made  for  many  a 
day.  The  discourtesy  involved  in  the  disregard  of 
the  doctor's  instructions  did  not  trouble  him,  and  he 
smirked  with  some  satisfaction  as  he  noiselessly  closed 
his  door  behind  him  and  looked  at  the  drawn  blinds 
opposite.  The  stars  were  paling  as  he  quitted  the 
alley  and  made  his  way  to  -the  railway  station.  A 
note  on  his  tumbled  pillow,  after  thanking  Mrs. 
Silk  for  her  care  of  him,  informed  her  that  he  was 
quite  well  and  had  gone  to  London  in  search  of  the 
missing  captain. 

Hardy,  who  had  heard  from  Edward  Silk  of  the 
steward's  indisposition  and  had  been  intending  to 
pay  him  a  visit,  learnt  of  his  departure  later  on  in 
the  morning,  and,  being  ignorant  of  the  particulars, 
discoursed  somewhat  eloquently  to  his  partner  on 
the  old  man's  devotion. 

"  H'm,  may  be,"  said  Swann,  taking  off  his  glasses 
and  looking  at  him.  *'  But  you  don't  think  Captain 
Nugent  is  in  London,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Why  not  ?  "  inquired  Hardy,  somewhat  startled. 

"  If  what  Wilks  told  you  is  true,  Nathan  Smith 
knows,"  said  the  other.     "  I'll  ask  him." 

"  You  don't  expect  to  get  the  truth  out  of  him, 
do  you  ?  "  inquired  Hardy,  supverciliously. 

"  I  do,"  said  his  partner,  serenely  ;  "  and  when 
I've  got  it  I   shall  go  and   tell  them  at  Equator 

i8i 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Lodge.  It  will  be  doing  those  two  poor  ladies  a 
service  to  let  them  know  what  has  really  happened 
to  the  captain." 

"  I'll  walk  round  to  Nathan  Smith's  with  you," 
said  Hardy.  "  I  should  like  to  hear  what  the  fellow 
has  to  say." 

"No,  I'll  go  alone,"  said  his  partner;  "Smith's 
a  very  shy  man — painfully  shy.  I've  run  across  him 
once  or  twice  before.  He's  almost  as  bashful  and 
retiring  as  you  are." 

Hardy  grunted.  "  If  the  captain  isn't  in  London, 
where  is  he  ?  "  he  inquired. 

The  other  shook  his  head.  "  I've  got  an  idea," 
he  replied,  "  but  I  want  to  make  sure.  Kybird  and 
Smith  are  old  friends,  as  Nugent  might  have  known, 
only  he  was  always  too  high  and  mighty  to  take  any 
interest  in  his  inferiors.  There's  something  for  you 
to  go  on." 

He  bent  over  his  desk  again  and  worked  steadily 
until  one  o'clock — his  hour  for  lunching.  Then  he 
put  on  his  hat  and  coat,  and  after  a  comfortable 
meal  sallied  out  in  search  of  Mr.  Smith. 

The  boarding-house,  an  old  and  dilapidated 
building,  was  in  a  by-street  convenient  to  the  har- 
bour. The  front  door  stood  open,  and  a  couple  of 
seamen  lounging  on  the  broken  steps  made  way  for 
him  civilly  as  he  entered  and  rapped  on  the  bare 
boards  with  his  stick.     Mr.  Smith,  clattering  down 

182 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  stairs  in  response,  had  some  difficulty  in  con* 
cealing  his  surprise  at  the  visit,  but  entered  genially 
into  a  conversation  about  the  weather,  a  subject  in 


«*  In  search  of  Mr,  Smith.* 


which  he  was  much  interested.  When  the  shijv 
broker  began  to  discuss  the  object  of  his  visit  he  led 
him  to  a  small  sitting-room  at  the  back  of  the  house 

183 


At  Sunwich  Port 

and  repeated  the  information  he  had  given  to  Mr. 
Wilks. 

"  That's  all  there  is  to  tell,"  he  concluded,  art- 
lessly ;  "  the  cap'n  was  that  ashamed  of  hisself,  he's 
laying  low  for  a  bit.  We  all  make  mistakes  some- 
times ;  I  do  myself." 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,"  said  Mr.  Swann, 
gratefully. 

"  You're  quite  welcome,  sir,"  said  the  boarding- 
master. 

"  And  now,"  said  the  visitor,  musingly — "  now 
for  the  police." 

"  Police !  "  repeated  Mr.  Smith,  almost  hastily. 
"What  for?" 

"  Why,  to  find  the  captain,"  said  Mr.  Swann,  in 
a  surprised  voice. 

Mr.  Smith  shook  his  head.  "  You'll  offend  the 
cap'n  bitter  if  you  go  to  the  p>olice  about  'im,  sir," 
he  declared.  "  His  last  words  to  me  was,  'Smith, 
*ave  this  kept  quiet.'  " 

"  It'll  be  a  little  job  for  the  police,"  urged  the 
shipbroker.  "  They  don't  have  much  to  do  down 
here ;  they'll  be  as  pleased  as  possible." 

"  They'll  worry  your  life  out  of  you,  sir,"  said 
the  other.     "  You  don't  know  what  they  are." 

"  I  like  a  little  excitement,"  returned  Mr.  Swann. 
"  I  don't  suppose  they'll  trouble  me  much,  but 
they'll  turn  your  place  topsy-turvy,  I  expect.     Still, 

184 


At  Sunwich  Port 

that  can't  be  helped.  You  know  what  fools  the 
police  are ;  they'll  think  you've  murdered  the  cap- 
tain and  hidden  his  body  under  the  boards.  They'll 
have  all  the  floors  up.     Ha,  ha,  ha !  " 

"  'Aving  floors  up  don't  seem  to  me  to  be  so 
amusing  as  wot  it  does  to  you,"  remarked  Mr, 
Smith,  coldly. 

"  They  may  find  all  sorts  of  treasure  for  you,** 
continued  his  visitor.  "  It's  a  very  old  house. 
Smith,  and  there  may  be  bags  of  guineas  hidden 
away  under  the  flooring.     You  may  be  able  to  retire." 

"  You're  a  gentleman  as  is  fond  of  his  joke,  Mr. 
Swann,"  returned  the  boarding-master,  lugubriously. 
"  I  wish  I'd  got  that  'appy  way  of  looking  at  things 
you  'ave." 

"  I'm  not  joking,  Smith,"  said  the  other,  quietly, 

Mr.  Smith  pondered  and,  stealing  a  side-glance 
at  him,  stood  scraping  his  foot  along  the  floor. 

"  There  ain't  nothing  much  to  tell,"  he  grumbled, 
**  and,  mind,  the  worst  favour  you  could  do  to  the 
cap'n  would  be  to  put  it  about  how  he  was  done. 
He's  gone  for  a  little  trip  instead  of 'is  son,  that's  all." 

'*  Little  trip !  "  repeated  the  other ;  "  you  call  a 
whaling  cruise  a  little  trip  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  in  a  shocked  voice, 
*'  I  ain't  so  bad  as  that;  I've  got  some  'art,  I  hope. 
He's  just  gone  for  a  little  trip  with  'is  old  pal  Hardy 
on  the  Conqueror.     Kybird's  idea  it  was." 

185 


At  Sunwich  Port 


**  I  'ave  heard  of  'em  exploding." 

To  Mr.  Smith's  great  surprise  his  visitor  sat  down 
suddenly  and  began  to  laugh.  Tears  of  honest 
mirth  suffused  his  eyes  and  dimmed  his  glasses. 
Mr.  Smith,  regarding  him  with  an  air  of  kindly  in- 
terest,  began  to  laugh  to  keep  him  company. 

"  186 


At  Sunwich   Port 

"  Don't  you  know  it's  punishable  ?  "  demanded 
the  shipbroker,  recovering. 

Mr.  Smith  shook  his  head  and  became  serious. 
"The  cap'n  fell  into  'is  own  trap,"  he  said,  slowly. 
"  There's  no  lor  for  'im  !  He'd  only  get  laughed 
at.  The  idea  of  trying  to  get  me  to  put  little  Ame- 
lia Kybird's  young  man  away.  Why,  I  was  'er  god- 
father." 

Mr.  Swann  stared  at  him,  and  then  with  a  friendly 
*'  good  morning  "  departed.  Half-way  along  the 
passage  he  stopped,  and  retracing  his  steps  produced 
his  cigar-case  and  offered  the  astonished  boarding- 
master  a  cigar. 

"  I  s'pose,"  said  that  gentleman  as  he  watched  the 
other's  retreating  figure  and  dubiously  smelt  the  ci- 
gar ;  "  I  s'pose  it's  all  right ;  but  he's  a  larky  sort, 
and  I  'ave  heard  of 'cm  exploding.  I'll  give  it  to 
Kybird,  in  case." 


1^7 


CHAPTER  XIV 

CAPTAIN  NUGENT  awoke  the  morning 
after  his  attempt  to  crimp  his  son  with  a  bad 
headache.  Not  an  ordinary  headache,  to 
disappear  with  a  little  cold  water  and  fresh  air ;  but 
a  splitting,  racking  affair,  which  made  him  feel  all 
head  and  dulness.  Weights  pressed  upon  his  eye- 
lids and  the  back  of  his  head  seemed  glued  to  his 
pillow. 

He  groaned  faintly  and,  raising  himself  upon  his 
elbow,  opened  his  eyes  and  sat  up  with  a  sharp  ex- 
clamation. His  bed  was  higher  from  the  floor  than 
usual  and,  moreover,  the  floor  was  different.  In 
the  dim  light  he  distinctly  saw  a  ship's  forecastle, 
untidy  bunks  with  frouzy  bedclothes,  and  shiny  oil- 
skins hanging  from  the  bulkhead. 

For  a  few  moments  he  stared  about  in  mystifica- 
tion ;  he  was  certainly  ill,  and  no  doubt  the  forecastle 
was  an  hallucination.  It  was  a  strange  symptom,  and 
the  odd  part  of  it  was  that  everything  was  so  distinct. 
Even  the  smell.  He  stared  harder,  in  the  hope  that 
his  surroundings  would  give  place  to  the  usual  ones, 
and,  leaning  a  little  bit  more  on  his  elbow,  nearly 

i88 


At  Sunwich  Port 


rolled  out  of  the  bunk.  Resolved  to  probe  this 
mystery  to  the  bottom  he  lowered  himself  to  the 
floor  and  felt  distinctly  the  motion  of  a  ship  at  sea. 

There  was  no  doubt  about  it. 
He  staggered  to  the  door  and, 
holding  by  the  side,  looked  on 
to  the  deck.  The  steamer  was 
rolling  in  a  fresh  sea 
and  a  sweet  strong 
wind  blew  refreshingly 


-c4 


'*  He  ttepped  to  the  side  and 
looked  over." 


into  his  face.    Fun- 
nels,   bridge,     and 
masts   swung   with   a 
rhythmical     motion; 
loose   gear    rattled,   and 
every  now  and  then  a  dis- 
tant tinkle  sounded  faintly 
from  the  steward's  pantry. 
He  stood  bewildered,  trying 
189 


At  Sunwich   Port 

to  piece  together  the  events  of  the  preceding  night, 
and  to  try  and  understand  by  what  miracle  he  was 
back  on  board  his  old  ship  the  Conqueror.  There 
was  no  doubt  as  to  her  identity.  He  knew  every 
inch  of  her,  and  any  further  confirmation  that 
might  be  required  was  fully  supplied  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  long,  lean  figure  of  Captain  Hardy 
on  the  bridge. 

Captain  Nugent  took  his  breath  sharply  and  began 
to  realize  the  situation.  He  stepped  to  the  side 
and  looked  over ;  the  harbour  was  only  a  little  way 
astern,  and  Sunwich  itself,  looking  cold  and  cheer- 
less beyond  the  dirty,  tumbling  seas,  little  more  than 
a  mile  distant. 

At  the  sight  his  spirits  revived,  and  with  a  hoarse 
cry  he  ran  shouting  towards  the  bridge.  Captain 
Hardy  turned  sharply  at  the  noise,  and  recognizing 
the  intruder  stood  peering  down  at  him  in  undis- 
guised amazement. 

"  Put  back,"  cried  Nugent,  waving  up  at  him. 
«  Put  back." 

"  What  on  earth  are  you  doing  on  my  ship  ?  "  in- 
squired  the  astonished  Hardy. 

**  Put  me  ashore,"  cried  Nugent,  imperiously ; 
"don't  waste  time  talking.  D'ye  hear?  Put  me 
ashore." 

The  amazement  died  out  of  Hardy's  face  and 
gave  way  to  an  expression  of  anger.     For  a  time  he 

J<)0 


At  Sunwich  Port 

regarded  the  red  and  threatening  visage  of  Captain 
Nugent  in  silence,  then  he  turned  to  the  second 
officer. 

"  This  man  is  not  one  of  the  crew,. Mr.  ProfHe  ^** 
he  said,  in  a  puzzled  voice. 

"  No,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Prowle. 

"  How  did  he  get  aboard  here  ?  " 

Captain  Nugent  answered  the  question  himself 
"  I  was  crimped  by  you  and  your  drunKen  bullies," 
he  said,  sternly. 

"  How  did  this  man  get  aboard  here?  "  repeated 
Captain  Hardy,  ignoring  him. 

"  He  must  have  concealed  nimself  somewhere, 
sir,"  said  the  mate ;  "  this  is  tlie  hrst  I've  seen  of 
him." 

"  A  stowaway  ? "  said  the  captain,  bending  his 
brows.  "He  must  have  got  some  of  the  crew  to 
hide  him  aboard.  You'd  better  make  a  clean  breast 
of  it,  my  lad.     Who  are  your  confederates  ?  " 

Captain  Nugent  shook  with  fiiry.  The  second 
mate  had  turned  away,  with  his  hand  over  his 
mouth  and  a  suspicious  hunching  of  his  shoulders, 
while  the  steward,  who  had  been  standing  by,  beat 
a  hasty  retreat  and  collapsed  behind  the  chart- 
room. 

"If you  don't  put  me  ashore,"  said  Nugent, 
restraining  his  passion  by  a  strong  effort,  '*  I'll  take 
proceedings  against  you  for  crimping  m6,  the  mo- 

191 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ment  I  reach  port.  Get  a  boat  out  and  put  me 
aboard  that  smack." 

He  pointed  as  he  spoke  to  a  smack  which  was 
just  on  their  beam,  making  slowly  for  the  harbour. 

"When  you've  done  issuing  orders,"  said  the 
captain,  in  an  indifferent  voice,  "perhaps  you'll  ex- 
plain what  you  are  doing  aboard  my  craft." 

Captain  Nugent  gazed  at  the  stern  of  the  fast- 
receding  smack  j  Sunwich  was  getting  dim  in  the 
distance  and  there  was  no  other  sail  near.  He  be- 
gan to  realize  that  he  was  in  for  a  long  voyage. 

"  I  awoke  this  morning  and  found  myself  in  a 
bunk  in  your  fo'c's'le,"  he  said,  regarding  Hardy 
steadily.  "  How  J  jrot  there  is  probably  best  known 
to  yourself.     I  hold  you  responsible  for  the  affair." 

"  Look  here,  my  Jad,"  said  Captain  Hardy,  in  pat- 
ronizing tones,  "I  don't  know  how  you  got  aboard 
my  ship  and  I  don't  care.  I  am  willing  to  believe 
that  it  was  not  intentional  on  your  part,  but  either 
the  outcome  of  a  drunken  freak  or  else  a  means  of 
escaping  from  some  scrape  you  have  got  into  ashore. 
That  being  so,  I  shall  take  a  merciful  view  of  it,  and 
if  you  behave  yourself  and  make  yourself  useful  you 
will  not  hear  anything  more  of  it.  He  has  some- 
thing the  look  of  a  seafaring  man,  Mr.  Prowle.  See 
what  you  can  make  of  him." 

"  Come  along  with  me,  my  lad,"  said  the  grinning 
Mr.  Prowle,  tapping  him  on  the  shoulder. 

IQ2 


At  Sunwich  Port 

The  captain  turned  with  a  snarl,  and,  clenching 
his  huge,  horny  fist,  let  drive  full  in  the  other's  face 
and  knocked  him  off  his  feet. 

"  Take  that  man  for'ard,"  cried  Captain  Hardy, 
sharply.      "  Take  him  for'ard." 

Half-a-dozen  willing  men  sprang  forward.  Cap- 
tain Nugent's  views  concerning  sailormen  were  well 
known  in  Sunwich,  and  two  of  the  men  present  had 
served  under  him.  He  went  forward,  the  centre  of 
an  attentive  and  rotating  circle,  and,  sadly  out  of 
breath,  was  bestowed  in  the  forecastle  and  urged  to 
listen  to  reason. 

For  the  remainder  of  the  morning  he  made  no 
sign.  The  land  was  almost  out  of  sight,  and  he  sat 
down  quietly  to  consider  his  course  of  action  for  the 
next  few  weeks.  Dinner-time  found  him  still  en- 
grossed in  thought,  and  the  way  in  which  he  re- 
ceived an  intimation  from  a  good-natured  seaman 
that  his  dinner  was  getting  cold  showed  that  his 
spirits  were  still  unquelled. 

By  the  time  afternoon  came  he  was  faint  with 
hunger,  and,  having  determined  upon  his  course 
of  action,  he  sent  a  fairly  polite  message  to  Captain 
Hardy  and  asked  for  an  interview. 

The  captain,  who  was  resting  from  his  labours  in 
the  chart-room,  received  him  with  the  same  air  of 
cold  severity  which  had  so  endeared  Captain  Nugent 
himself  to  his  subordinates. 

19^ 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  You  have  come  to  explain  your  extraordinary 
behaviour  of  this  morning,  I  suppose  ?  "  he  said, 
curtly. 

"  I  have  come  to  secure  a  berth  aft,"  said  Captain 
Nugent.  "  I  will  pay  a  small  deposit  now,  and  you 
will,  of  course,  have  the  balance  as  soon  as  we  get 
back.  This  is  without  prejudice  to  any  action  I 
may  bring  against  you  later  on." 

"Oh,  indeed,"  said  the  other,  raising  his  eyebrows. 
**  We  don't  take  passengers." 

"  I  am  here  against  my  will,"  said  Captain  Nu- 
gent, "  and  I  demand  the  treatment  due  to  my  po- 
sition." 

"  If  I  had  treated  you  properly,"  said  Captain 
Hardy,  "  I  should  have  put  you  in  irons  for  knock- 
ing down  my  second  officer.  I  know  nothing  about 
you  or  your  position.  You're  a  stowaway,  and  you 
must  do  the  best  you  can  in  the  circumstances." 

"  Are  you  going  to  give  me  a  cabin  ?  "  demanded 
the  other,  menacingly. 

"  Certainly  not,"  said  Captain  Hardy.  "  1  have 
been  making  inquiries,  and  I  find  that  you  have  only 
yourself  to  thank  for  the  position  in  which  you  find 
yourself.     I  am  sorry  to  be  harsh  with  you." 

"  Harsh?'"  ifepeated  the  other,  hardly  able  to  be- 
lieve his  ears.     "  You — harsh  to  me?  " 

"  But  it  is  for  your  own  good,"  pursued  Captain 
Hardy  ;  "  it  is  no  pleasure  to  me  to  punish  yoiu.     I 

194 


At  Sunwich  Port 

shall  Keep  an  eye  on  you  while  you're  aboard,  and  if 
I  see  that  your  conduct  is  improving  you  will  find 
that  I  am  not  a  hard  man  to  get  on  with." 


♦•  You  keep  on,  Nugent,  don't  you  mind  'im. 

^95 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Captain  Nugent  stared  at  him  with  his  lips  parted. 
Three  times  he  essayed  to  speak  and  failed ;  then  he 
turned  sharply  and,  gaining  the  open  air,  stood  for 
some  time  trying  to  regain  his  composure  before 
going  forward  again.  The  first  mate,  who  was  on  the 
bridge,  regarded  him  curiously,  and  then,  with  an 
insufferable  air  of  authority,  ordered  him  away. 

The  captain  obeyed  mechanically  and,  turning  a 
deaf  ear  to  the  inquiries  of  the  men,  prepared  to 
make  the  best  of  an  intolerable  situation,  and  began 
to  cleanse  his  bunk.  First  of  all  he  took  out  the 
bedding  and  shook  it  thoroughly,  and  then,  pro- 
curing soap  and  a  bucket  of  water,  began  to  scrub 
with  a  will.     Hostile  comments  followed  the  action. 

**  We  ain't  clean  enough  for  'im,"  said  one  voice. 

"  Partikler  old  party,  ain't  he.  Bill  ?  "  said  another. 

**  You  leave  'im  alone,"  said  the  man  addressed, 
surveying  the  captain's  efforts  with  a  smile  of  ap- 
proval. "  You  keep  on,  Nugent,  don't  you  mind 
'im.     There's  a  little  bit  there  you  ain't  done." 

"  Keep  your  head  out  of  the  way,  unless  you 
want  it  knocked  off,"  said  the  incensed  captain. 

"  Ho  !  "  said  the  aggrieved  Bill.  "  Ho,  indeed  ! 
D'ye  'ear  that,  mates  ?  A  man  musn't  look  at  'is 
own  bunk  now." 

The  captain  turned  as  though  he  had  been  stung. 
"  This  is  my  bunk,"  he  said,  sharply. 

"  Ho,  is  it?  "  said  Bill.  "  Beggin'  of  your  par- 
196 


At  Sunwich  Port 

don,  an*  apologizing  for  a-contradictin'  of  you,  but 
it's  mine.     You  haven't  got  no  bunk." 

"  I  slept  in  it  last  night,"  said  the  captain,  conclu- 
sively. 

"  I  know  you  did,"  said  Bill,  "  but  that  was  all 
my  kind-'artedness." 

"  And  'arf  a  quid,  Bill,"  a  voice  reminded  him. 

"  And  'arf  a  quid,"  assented  Bill,  graciously,  "  and 
I'm  very  much  obliged  to  you,  mate,  for  the  careful 
and  tidy  way  in  which  you've  cleaned  up  arter  your- 
self." 

The  captain  eyed  him.  Many  years  of  command 
at  sea  had  given  him  a  fine  manner,  and  force  of 
habit  was  for  a  moment  almost  too  much  for  Bill 
and  his  friends.     But  only  for  a  moment. 

"  I'm  going  to  keep  this  bunk,"  said  the  captain, 
deliberately. 

"  No,  you  ain't,  mate,"  said  Bill,  shaking  his 
head,  "don't  you  believe  it.  You're  nobody  down 
here;  not  even  a  ordinary  seaman.  I'm  afraid 
you'll  'ave  to  clean  a  place  for  yourself  on  the  car- 
pet.    There's  a  nice  corner  over  there." 

"  When  I  get  back,"  said  the  furious  captain, 
"  some  of  you  will  go  to  gaol  for  last  night's  work." 

"  Don't  be  hard  on  us,"  said  a  mocking  voice, 
**  we  did  our  best.  It  ain't  our  fault  that  you  look 
so  ridikerlously  young,  that  we  took  you  for  your 
own  son." 

197 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"And  you  was  in  that  state  that  you  couldn't 
contradict  us,"  said  another  man. 

"  If  it  is  your  bunk,"  said  the  captain,  sternly,  "  I 
suppose  you  have  a  right  to  it.  "  But  perhaps 
you'll  sell  it  to  me?     How  much? " 

**  Now  you're  talking  bisness,"  said  the  highly 
gratified  Bill,  turning  with  a  threatening  gesture  upon 
a  speculator  opposite.  "  Wot  do  you  say  to  a  couple 
o*  pounds  ? " 

The  captain  nodded. 

"  Couple  o'  pounds,  money  down,"  said  Bill, 
holding  out  his  hand. 

The  captain  examined  the  contents  of  his  pocket, 
«nd  after  considerable  friction  bought  the  bunk  for 
a  pound  cash  and  an  I  O  U  for  the  balance. 

A  more  humane  man  woiz'd  have  shown  a  little 
concern  as  to  his  benefactor's  sleeping-place :  but  the 
captain  never  gave  the  matter  a  thought.  In  fact,  it 
was  not  until  three  days  later  that  he  discovered 
there  was  a  spare  bunk  in  the  forecastle,  and  that  the 
unscrupulous  seaman  was  occupying  it. 

It  was  only  one  of  many  annoyances,  but  the  cap- 
tain realizing  his  impotence  made  no  sign.  From 
certain  remarks  let  fall  in  his  hearing  he  had  no  dif- 
ficulty in  connecting  Mr.  Kybird  with  his  discomfit- 
ure and,  of  his  own  desire,  he  freely  included  the  un- 
fortunate Mr.  Wilks. 

He  passed  his  time  in  devising  schemes  of  ven- 
198 


At  Sunwich   Port 

geance,  and  when  Captain  Hardy,  relenting,  offered 
him  a  cabin  aft,  he  sent  back  such  a  message  of  re- 
fusal that  the  steward  spent  half  an  hour  preparing  a 
paraphrase.  The  offer  was  not  repeated,  and  the 
captain,  despite  the  strong  representations  of  Bill  and 
his  friends,  continued  to  eat  the  bread  of  idleness  be- 
fore the  mast. 


CHAPTER    XV 

MR.  ADOLPHUS  SWANN  spent  a  very 
agreeable  afternoon  after  his  interview 
with  Nathan  Smith  in  refusing  to  satisfy 
what  he  termed  the  idle  curiosity  of  his  partner. 
The  secret  of  Captain  Nugent's  whereabouts,  he  de- 
clared, was  not  to  be  told  to  everybody,  but  was  to 
be  confided  by  a  man  of  insinuating  address  and  ap- 
pearance— here  he  looked  at  himself  in  a  hand-glass 
— to  Miss  Nugent.  To  be  broken  to  her  by  a  man 
with  no  ulterior  motives  for  his  visit;  a  man  in  the 
prime  of  life,  but  not  too  old  for  a  little  tender  sym- 
pathy. 

"  I  had  hoped  to  have  gone  this  afternoon,"  he 
said,  with  a  glance  at  the  clock  ;  "  but  I'm  afraid  I 
can't  get  away.  Have  you  got  much  to  do, 
Hardy  ? " 

"  No,"  said  his  partner,  briskly.    "  I've  finished." 

"  Then  perhaps  you  wouldn't  mind  doing  my 
work  for  me,  so  that  I  can  go  ?  "  said  Mr.  Swann, 
mildly. 

Hardy  played  with  his  pen.  The  senior  partner 
had  been  amusing  himself  at  his  expense  for  some 

200 


At  Sunwich  Port 

time,  and  in  the  hope  of  a  favour  at  his  hands 
he  had  endured  it  with  unusual  patience. 


«*  Hadn't  you  better  see  about  making  yourself  presentable,  Hardy  t** 

**  Four  o'clock/'  murmured  the  senior  partner ; 
"  hadn't  you  better  see  about  making  yourself  pre- 
sentable. Hardy  ?  " 


20I 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"Thanks,"  said  the  otner,  with  alacrity,  as  he  took 
off  his  coat  and  crossed  over  to  the  little  washstand. 
In  five  minutes  he  had  finished  his  toilet  and,  giving 
his  partner  a  little  friendly  pat  on  the  shoulder, 
locked  up  his  desk. 

«  Well  ?  '*  he  said,  at  last. 

"  Well  ?  "  repeated  Mr.  Swann,  with  a  little  sur- 
prise. 

"  What  am  I  to  tell  them  ?  *'  inquired  Hardy, 
struggling  to  keep  his  temper. 

"  Tell  them  ? "  repeated  the  innocent  Swann. 
"  Lor*  bless  my  soul,  how  you  do  jump  at  conclu- 
sions. Hardy.  I  only  asked  you  to  tidy  yourself 
for  my  sake.  I  have  an  artistic  eye.  I  thought 
you  had  done  it  to  please  me." 

"  When  you're  tired  of  this  nonsense,"  said  the 
indignant  Hardy,  "  I  shall  be  glad." 

Mr.  Swann  looked  him  over  carefully  and,  coming 
to  the  conclusion  that  his  patience  was  exhausted, 
told  him  the  result  of  his  inquiries.  His  immediate 
reward  was  the  utter  Incredulity  of  Mr.  Hardy,  to- 
gether with  some  pungent  criticisms  of  his  veracity. 
When  the  young  man  did  realize  at  last  that  he 
was  speaking  the  truth  he  fell  to  wondering  blankly 
what  was  happening  aboard  the  Conqueror. 

"  Never  mind  about  that,"  said  the  older  man. 
"  For  a  few  weeks  you  have  got  a  clear  field.  It  is 
quite  a  bond  between  you :  both  your  fathers  on 

202 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  same  ship.  But  whatever  you  do,  don't  remind 
her  of  the  fate  of  the  Kilkenny  cats.  Draw  a  fancy 
picture  of  the  two  fathers  sitting  with  their  arms 
about  each  other's  waists  and  wondering  whether 
their  children " 

Hardy  left  hurriedly,  in  fear  that  his  indignation 
at  such  frivolity  should  overcome  his  gratitude,  and 
he  regretted  as  he  walked  briskly  along  that  the 
diffidence  peculiar  to  young  men  in  his  circumstances 
had  prevented  him  from  acquainting  his  father  with 
the  state  of  his  feelings  towards  Kate  Nugent. 

The  idea  of  taking  advantage  of  the  captain's 
enforced  absence  had  occurred  to  other  people  be- 
sides Mr.  James  Hardy.  Dr.  Murchison,  who  had 
found  the  captain,  despite  his  bias  in  his  favour,  a 
particularly  tiresome  third,  was  taking  the  fullest 
advantage  of  it ;  and  Mrs.  Kybird  had  also  judged 
it  an  admirable  opportunity  for  paying  a  first  call. 
Mr.  Kybird,  who  had  not  taken  her  into  his  con- 
fidence in  the  affair,  protested  in  vain  ;  the  lady  was 
determined,  and,  moreover,  had  the  warm  support 
of  her  daughter. 

"  I  know  what  I'm  doing,  Dan'l,"  she  said  to  her 
husband. 

Mr.  Kybird  doubted  it,  but  held  his  peace ;  and 
the  objections  of  Jack  Nugent,  who  found  to  his 
dismay  that  he  was  to  be  of  the  party,  were  deemed 
too  trivial  to  be  worthy  of  serious  consideration. 

203 


At  Sunwich  Port 

They  started  shortly  after  Jem  Hardy  had  left 
his  office,  despite  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Kybird,  who 
was    troubled    with    asthma,    was    suffering    untold 


**  It  was  not  without  a  certain  amount  of  satisfaction  that  he  regarded 

her  discomfiture." 

a^^*jiies  in  a  black  satin  dress  which  had  been  origi- 
njiily  made  for  a  much  smaller  woman,  and  had  come 
into  her  husband's  hands  in  the  way  of  business. 
It  got  into  hers  in  what  the  defrauded  Mr.  Kybird 

204 


At  Sunwich  Port 

considered  an  extremely  unbusinesslike  manner,  and 
f.t  was  not  without  a  certain  amount  of  satisfaction 
that  he  regarded  her  discomfiture  as  the  party  sallied 
out. 

Mr.  Nugent  was  not  happy.  Mrs.  Kybird  in 
the  snug  seclusion  of  the  back  parlour  was  one 
thing ;  Mrs.  Kybird  in  black  satin  at  its  utmost 
tension  and  a  circular  hat  set  with  sable  ostrich 
plumes  nodding  in  the  breeze  was  another.  He 
felt  that  the  public  eye  was  upon  them  and  that  it 
twinkled.  His  gaze  wandered  from  mother  to 
daughter. 

"What  are  you  staring  at?"  demanded  Miss 
Kybird,  pertly. 

"  I  was  thinking  how  well  you  are  looking,"  was 
the  reply. 

Miss  Kybird  smiled.  She  had  hoisted  some 
daring  colours,  but  she  was  of  a  bold  type  and 
carried  them  fairly  well. 

"  If  I  'ad  the  woman  what  made  this  dress  'ere,** 
gasped  Mrs.  Kybird,  as  she  stopped  with  her  hand 
on  her  side,  "  I'd  give  her  a  bit  o'  my  mind." 

"  I  never  saw  you  look  so  well  in  anything  be* 
fore,  ma,"  said  her  daughter. 

Mrs.  Kybird  smiled  faintly  and  continued  her 
pilgrimage.  Jem  Hardy  coming  up  rapidly  behind 
composed  his  amused  features  and  stepped  into  the 
road  to  pass. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  Halloa,  Hardy,"  said  Nugent.     "  Going  home  ?** 

*'I  am  calling  on  your  sister,"  said  Hardy,  bowing. 

**  By  Jove,  so  are  we,"  said  Nugent,  relieved  to 
find  this  friend  in  need.  "  We'll  go  together. 
You  know  Mrs.  Kybird  and  Miss  Kybird  ?  That 
is  Mrs.  Kybird." 

Mrs.  Kybird  bade  him  "  Go  along,  do,"  and  ac- 
knowledged the  introduction  with  as  stately  a  bow 
as  the  black  satin  would  permit,  and  before  the 
dazed  Jem  quite  knew  how  it  all  happened  he  was 
leading  the  way  with  Mrs.  Kybird,  while  the  young 
people,  as  she  called  them,  followed  behind. 

**  We  ain't  looking  at  you,"  she  said,  playfully, 
over  her  shoulder. 

"  And  we're  trying  to  shut  our  eyes  to  your 
goings  on,"  retorted  Nugent. 

Mrs.  Kybird  stopped  and,  with  a  half-turn,  play- 
fully reached  for  him  with  her  umbrella.  The  exer- 
tion and  the  joke  combined  took  the  remnant  of  her 
breath  away,  and  she  stood  still,  panting. 

"  You  had  better  take  Hardy's  arm,  I  think," 
said  Nugent,  with  affected  solicitude. 

"  It's  my  breath,"  explained  Mrs.  Kybird,  turn- 
ing to  the  fuming  young  man  by  her  side.  "  I  can 
*ardly  get  along  for  it — I'm  much  obliged  to  you, 
I'm  sure." 

Mr.  Hardy,  with  a  vain  attempt  to  catch  Jack 
Nugent's  eye,  resigned  himself  to  his  fate,  and  with 

206 


At  Sunwich  Port 

his  fair  burden  on  his  arm  walked  with  painful  slow- 
ness towards  Equator  Lodge.  A  ribald  voice  from 
the  other  side  of  the  road,  addressing  his  companion 


^"^i^t:^ 


«*  Mr.  Hardy  resigned  himtelf  to  hit  fatt." 

as  "  Mother  Kybird,"  told  her  not  to  hug  the  man, 
and  a  small  boy  whom  they  met  loudly  asseverated 
his  firm  intention  of  going  straight  off  to  tell  Mr~ 
Kybird. 

ao7 


At  Sunwich  Port 

By  the  time  they  reached  the  house  Mr.  Hard) 
entertained  views  on  homicide  which   would    havi 
appeared  impossible  to   him  half  an  hour  before 
He  flushed  crimson  as  he  saw  the  astonished  face  o, 
Kate  Nugent  at  the  window,  and,  pausing  at  the 
gate  to  wait  for  the  others,  discovered  that  they 
had  disappeared.     A  rooted   dislike  to   scenes   of 
any  kind,  together  with  a  keen  eye  for  the  ludi- 
crous,  had   prompted  Jack    Nugent  to  suggest  a 
pleasant  stroll  to  Amelia  and  put  in  an  appearance 
later  on. 

"  We  won*t  wait  for  *im,*'  said  Mrs.  Kybird,  with 
decision ;  "  if  I  don't  get  a  sit  down  soon  I  shall 
drop." 

Still  clinging  to  the  reluctant  Hardy  she  walked 
up  the  path  ;  farther  back  in  the  darkness  of  the 
room  the  unfortunate  young  gentleman  saw  the 
faces  of  Dr.  Murchison  and  Mrs.  Kingdom. 

"And  *ow  are  you,  Bella?"  inquired  Mrs.  Ky- 
bird with  kindly  condescension.  "  Is  Mrs.  King- 
dom at  'ome  ?  " 

She  pushed  her  way  past  the  astonished  Bella 
and,  followed  by  Mr.  Hardy,  entered  the  room. 
Mrs.  Kingdom,  with  a  red  spot  on  each  cheek,  rose 
to  receive  them. 

"  I  ought  to  'ave  come  before,"  said  Mrs.  Kybird, 
subsiding  thankfully  into  a  chair,  "  but  I'm  such  a 
bad  walker.     I  'ope  I  see  you  well.** 

208 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  We  are  very  well,  thank  you,"  said  Mrs.  King- 
dom, stiffly. 

"  That's  right,"  said  her  visitor,  cordially  ;  "  what 
a  blessing  'ealth  is.  What  should  we  do  without  it, 
I  wonder  ?  " 

She  leaned  back  in  her  chair  and  shook  her  head 
at  the  prospect.  There  was  an  awkward  lull,  and 
in  the  offended  gaze  of  Miss  Nugent  Mr.  Hardy 
saw  only  too  plainly  that  he  was  held  responsible  for 
the  appearance  of  the  unwelcome  visitor. 

**  I  was  coming  to  see  you^"  he  said,  leaving  his 
chair  and  taking  one  near  hen  "  I  met  your  brother 
coming  along,  and  he  introduced  me  to  Mrs.  Kybird 
and  her  daughter  and  suggested  we  should  come 
together." 

Miss  Nugent  received  che  information  with  a  civil 
bow,  and  renewed  her  tonversation  with  Dr.  Mur- 
chison,  whose  face  showed  such  a  keen  appreciation 
of  the  situation  that  Hardy  had  some  difficulty  in 
masking  his  feelings. 

"  They're  a  long  time  a-coming,"  said  Mrs.  Ky- 
bird, smiling  archly  ;  "  but  there,  when  young  people 
are  keeping  company  they  forget  everything  and 
everybody.  They  didn't  trouble  about  me  ;  if  it 
*adn't  been  for  Mr.  'Ardy  giving  me  'is  arm  I  should 
never  'ave  got  here." 

There  was  a  prolonged  silence.  Dr.  Murchison 
gave  a  whimsical  glance  at  Miss  Nugent,  and  meet- 

209 


At  Sunwich   Port 

ing  no  response  in  that  lady's  indignant  eyes,  stroked 
his  moustache  and  awaited  events. 

"It  looks  as  though  your  brother  is  not  coming," 
said  Hardy  to  Miss  Nugent. 

"  He'll  turn  up  by-and-by,"  interposed  Mrs.  Ky- 
bird,  looking  somewhat  morosely  at  the  com{>any, 
"  They  don't  notice  'ow  the  time  flies,  that's  all." 

"  Time  does  go,"  murmured  Mrs.  Kingdom,  with 
a  glance  at  the  clock. 

Mrs.  Kybird  started.  "  Ah,  and  we  notice  it  too, 
ma'am,  at  our  age,"  she  said,  sweetly,  as  she  settled 
herself  in  her  chair  and  clasped  her  hands  in  her  lap 
"  I  can't  'elp  looking  at  you,  my  dear,"  she  contin- 
ued, looking  over  at  Miss  Nugent.  "  There's  sucii 
a  wonderflil  likeness  between  Jack  and  you.  Don't 
you  think  so,  ma'am  ?  " 

Mrs.  Kingdom  in  a  freezing  voice  said  that  she 
had  not  noticed  it. 

"  Of  course,"  said  Mrs.  Kybird,  glancing  at  her 
from  the  corner  of  her  eye,  "  Jack  has  'ad  to  rough 
it,  pore  feller,  and  that's  left  its  mark  on  'im.  I'm 
sure,  when  we  took  'im  in,  he  was  quite  done  up,  so 
to  speak.  He'd  only  got  what  'e  stood  up  in,  and 
the  only  pair  of  socks  he'd  got  to  his  feet  was  in 
such  a  state  of  'oles  that  they  had  to  be  th rowed 
away.     I  throwed  'em  away  myself" 

"  Dear  me,"  said  Mrs.  Kingdom. 

"  He  don't  look  Hke  the  same  feller  now,'  con« 

2IO 


At  Sunwich  Port 

tinued  the  amiable  Mrs.  Kybird ;  "good  living  and 
good  clothes  'ave  worked  wonders  in  'im.  I'm  sure 
if  he'd  been  my  own  son  I  couldn't  'ave  done  more 
for  'im,  and,  as  for  Kybird,  he's  like  a  fe.ther  to 
him." 

"  Dear  me,"  said  Mrs.  Kingdom,  again. 

Mrs.  Kybird  looked  at  her.  It  was  on  the  tip  of 
her  tongue  to  call  her  a  poll  parrot.  She  was  a  free- 
spoken  woman  as  a  rule,  and  it  was  terrible  to  have 
to  sit  still  and  waste  all  the  good  things  she  could 
have  said  to  her  in  favour  of  unsatisfying  pin-pricks. 
She  sat  smouldering. 

"  I  s'pose  you  miss  the  capt'in  very  muchC  "  she 
said,  at  last. 

"  Very  much,"  was  the  reply. 

"  And  I  should  think  'e  misses  you,"  retorted 
Mrs.  Kybird,  unable  to  restrain  herself;  "  *e  must 
miss  your  conversation  and  what  I  might  call  your 
liveliness." 

Mrs.  Kingdom  turned  and  regarded  her,  and  the 
red  stole  back  to  her  cheeks  again.  She  smoothed 
down  her  dress  and  her  hands  trembled.  Both  ladies 
were  now  regarding  each  other  in  a  feshion  which 
caused  serious  apprehension  to  the  rest  of  the  com- 
pany. 

"  I  am  not  a  great  talker,  but  I  am  very  careful 
whom  I  converse  with,"  said  Mrs.  Kingdom,  in  her 
most  statelv  manner. 

2 1  J. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  I  knew  a  lady  like  that  once,"  said  Mrs.  Ky- 
bird ;  "  leastways,  she  wasn't  a  lady,"  she  added, 
meditatively. 

Mrs.  Kingdom  fidgeted,  and  looked  over  piteously 
at  her  niece  ;  Mrs.  Kybird,  with  a  satisfied  snifF,  sat 
bolt  upright  and  meditated  further  assaults.  There 
were  at  least  a  score  of  things  she  could  have  said 
about  her  adversary's  cap  alone :  plain,  straightfor- 
ward remarks  which  would  have  torn  it  to  shreds. 
The  cap  fascinated  her,  and  her  fingers  itched  as  she 
gazed  at  it.  In  more  congenial  surroundings  she 
might  have  snatched  at  it,  but,  being  a  woman  of 
strong  character,  she  suppressed  her  natural  instincts, 
and  confined  herself  to  more  polite  methods  of 
attack. 

"  Your  nephew  don't  seem  to  be  in  no  hurry," 
she  remarked,  at  length ;  "  but,  there,  direckly  'e 
gets  along  o'  my  daughter  'e  forgits  everything  and 
everybody." 

"  I  really  don't  think  he  is  coming,"  said  Hardy, 
moved  to  speech  by  the  glances  of  Miss  Nugent. 

"  I  shall  give  him  a  Uttle  longer,"  said  Mrs.  Ky- 
bird. "  I  only  came  'ere  to  please  'im,  and  to  get 
*ome  alone  is  more  than  I  can  do." 

Miss  Nugent  looked  at  Mr.  Hardy,  and  her  eyes 
were  soft  and  expressive.  As  plainly  as  eyes  could 
speak  they  asked  him  to  take  Mrs.  Kybird  home, 
lest  worse  things  should  happen. 

212 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  Would  it  be  far  out  of  your  way  ?  "  she  asked, 
in  a  low  voice. 

"  Quite  the  opposite  direction,"  returned  Mr. 
Hardy,  firmly. 

"  How  I  got  'ere  I  don't  know,"  said  Mrs.  Ky- 
bird,  addressing  the  room  in  general ;  "  it's  a  won- 
der to  me.     Well,  once  is  enough  in  a  lifetime." 

"  Mr.  Hardy,"  said  Kate  Nugent,  again,  in  a  low 
voice,  "  I  should  be  so  much  obliged  if  you  would 
take  Mrs.  Kybird  away.  She  seems  bent  on  quar- 
relling with  my  aunt.     It  is  very  awkward." 

It  was  difficult  to  resist  the  entreaty,  but  Mr. 
Hardy  had  a  very  fair  idea  of  the  duration  of  Miss 
Nugent's  gratitude ;  and,  besides  that,  Murchison 
was  only  too  plainly  enjoying  his  discomfiture. 

"  She  can  get  home  alone  all  right,"  he  whispered. 

Miss  Nugent  drew  herself  up  disdainfully ;  Dr. 
Murchison,  looking  scandalized  at  his  brusqueness, 
hastened  to  the  rescue. 

"  As  a  medical  man,"  he  said,  with  a  considerable 
appearance  of  gravity,  "  I  don't  think  that  Mrs.  Ky- 
bird ought  to  go  home  alone." 

"  Think  not  ?  "  inquired  Hardy,  grimly. 

"  Certain  of  it,"  breathed  the  doctor. 

"Well,  why  don't  you  take  her?"  retorted  Hardy; 
"  it's  all  on  your  way.  I  have  some  news  for  Miss 
Nugent." 

Miss  Nugent  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  and 
213 


At  Sunwich  Port 


mischievous  lights  appeared  in  her  eyes  as  she  gazed 
at  che  carefully  groomed  and  fastidious  Murchison. 
From  them  she  looked  to  the  other  side  of  the  room, 
wKere  Mrs.  Kybird  was  stolidly  eyeing  Mrs.  King- 
dom, who  was  trying  in  vain 
to  appear  ignorant  of  the 
fact. 

"  Thank  you  very  much," 
said  Miss  Nugent,  turning 
to  the  doctor. 

"  I'm  sorry,"  began  Mur- 
chison, with  an  indignant 
glance  at  his  rival. 

"  Oh,  as  you  please,"  said 
the  girl,  coldly.  "  Pray  for- 
give me  for  asking  you." 

"If  you  really  wish  it," 
said  the  doctor,  rising. 

Miss  Nugent  smiled  upon 
him,  and  Hardy  also  gave 
him  a  smile  of  kindly  en- 
couragement, but  this  he  ig- 
nored. He  crossed  the  room 
and  bade  Mrs.  Kingdom 
good-bye  ;  and  then  in  a  few  disjointed  words  asked 
Mrs.  Kybird  whether  he  could  be  of  any  assistance 
in  seeing  her  home. 

"  I'm  sure  I'm  much  obliged  to  you,"  said  that 
214 


*•  Th«  carefully  gitxuned  and  618- 
ddious  Murchison." 


At  Sunwich  Port 

lady,  as  she  rose.  "  It  don't  seem  much  use  for  mc 
waiting  for  my  future  son-in-law.  I  wish  you  good 
afternoon,  ma'am.  I  can  understand  now  why  Jack 
didn't  come." 

With  this  parting  shot  she  quitted  the  room  and, 
leaning  on  the  doctor's  arm,  sailed  majestically  down 
the  path  to  the  gate,  every  feather  on  her  hat  trem- 
bling in  response  to  the  excitement  below. 

"  Good-natured  of  him,"  said  Hardy,  glancing 
from  the  window,  with  a  triumphant  smile. 

"  Very,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  coldly,  as  she  took  a 
seat  by  her  aunt.  "  What  is  the  news  to  which  you 
leferred  just  now ?     Is  it  about  my  father?  " 


«J 


CHAPTER    XVI 

THE  two  ladies  received  Mr.  Hardy's  infor- 
mation with  something  akin  to  consterna- 
tion, the  idea  of  the  autocrat  of  Equator 
Lodge  as  a  stowaway  on  board  the  ship  of  his  ancient 
enemy  proving  too  serious  for  ordinary  comment. 
Mrs.  Kingdom's  usual  expressions  of  surprise, 
"  Well,  I  never  did  !  "  and  "  Good  gracious  alive  !  " 
died  on  her  lips,  and  she  sat  gazing  helpless  and 
round-eyed  at  her  niece. 

"  I  wonder  what  he  said,"  she  gasped,  at  last. 

Miss  Nugent,  who  was  trying  to  imagine  her 
father  in  his  new  rdle  aboard  the  Conqueror,  paid  no 
heed.  It  was  not  a  pleasant  idea,  and  her  eyes 
flashed  with  temper  as  she  thought  of  it  Sooner 
or  later  the  whole  affair  would  be  public  property. 

"  I  had  an  idea  all  along  that  he  wasn't  in 
London,"  murmured  Mrs.  Kingdom.  "  Fancy 
that  Nathan  Smith  standing  in  Sam's  room  tell- 
ing us  falsehoods  like  that  I  He  never  even 
blushed." 

"  But  you  said  that  you  kept  picturing  father 
walking  about  the  streets  of  London,  wrestling  with 

2X6 


At  Sunwich  Port 

his  pride  and  trying  to  make  up  his  mind  to  come 
home  again,"  said  her  niece,  maliciously, 

Mrs.  Kingdom  fidgeted,  but  before  she  could 
think  of  a  satisfactory  reply  Bella  came  to  the  door 
and  asked  to  speak  to  her  for  a  moment.  Profiting 
by  her  absence,  Mr.  Hardy  leaned  towards  Miss 
Nugent,  and  in  a  low  voice  expressed  his  sorrow  at 
the  mishap  to  her  father  and  his  firm  conviction  that 
everything  that  could  be  thought  of  for  that  unfort- 
unate mariner's  comfort  would  be  done.  "  Our 
fathers  will  probably  come  back  good  friends,"  he 
concluded.  "  There  is  nothing  would  give  me  more 
pleasure  than  that,  and  I  think  that  we  had  better 
begin  and  set  them  a  good  example." 

"  It  is  no  good  setting  an  example  to  people  who 
are  hundreds  of  miles  away,"  said  the  matter-of-fact 
Miss  Nugent.  "  Besides,  if  they  have  made  friends, 
they  don't  want  an  example  set  them." 

"  But  in  that  case  they  have  set  us  an  example 
which  we  ought  to  follow,"  urged  Hardy. 

Miss  Nugent  raised  her  eyes  to  his.  "  Why  do 
you  wish  to  be  on  friendly  terms  ? "  she  asked,  with 
disconcerting  composure. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  your  father,"  returned 
Hardy,  with  perfect  gravity ;  "  and  Mrs.  Kingdom 
— and  you." 

He  eyed  her  steadily  as  he  spoke,  and  Miss  Nu- 
gent, despite  her  utmost  efforts,  realized  with  some 

217 


At  Sunwich  Port 

indignation  that  a  faint  tinge  of  colour  was  creeping 
into  her  cheeks.  She  remembered  his  covert  chal- 
lenge at  their  last  interview  at  Mr.  Willcs's,  and  the 
necessity  of  reading  this  persistent  young  man  a  stern 
lesson  came  to  her  with  all  the  force  of  a  public  duty 


•*  *  Why  do  you  wish  to  be  on  friendly  terms  ?  '  sh"c  asked." 

"  Why  ?  "  she  inquired ,  softly,  as  she  lowered  her 
eyes  and  assumed  a  pensive  expression. 

"  I  admire  him,  for  one  thing,  as  a  fine  seaman," 
said  Hardy. 

"Yes,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  "and " 

"And  I've  always  had  a  great  liking  for  Mrs. 

2l8 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Kingdom,"  he  continued ;  "  she  was  very  good- 
natured  to  me  when  I  was  a  very  small  boy,  I  re- 
member.    She  is  very  kind  and  amiable." 

The  baffled  Miss  Nugent  stole  a  glance  at  him. 
"And "  she  said  again,  very  softly. 

"  And  very  motherly,"  said  Hardy,  without  mov- 
ing a  muscle. 

Miss  Nugent  pondered  and  stole  another  glance 
at  him.  The  expression  of  his  face  was  ingenuous, 
not  to  say  simple.  She  resolved  to  risk  it.  So  far 
he  had  always  won  in  their  brief  encounters,  and 
monotony  was  always  distasteful  to  her,  especially 
monotony  of  that  kind. 

"  And  what  about  m.e  ?  "  she  said,  with  a  friendly 
smile. 

"  You,"  said  Hardy,  with  a  gravity  of  voice  belied 
by  the  amusement  in  his  eye ;  "  you  are  the  daugh- 
ter of  the  fine  seaman  and  the  niece  of  the  good- 
natured  and  motherly  Mrs.  Kingdom." 

Miss  Nugent  looked  down  again  hastily,  and  all 
the  shrew  within  her  clamoured  for  vengeance.  It 
was  the  same  masterful  Jem  Hardy  that  had  forced 
his  way  into  their  seat  at  church  as  a  boy.  If  he 
went  on  in  this  way  he  would  become  unbearable ; 
she  resolved,  at  the  cost  of  much  personal  inconven- 
ience, to  give  him  a  much-needed  fall.  But  she 
realized  quite  clearly  that  it  would  be  a  matter  of 
time. 

"9 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Of  course,  you  and  Jack  are  already  good 
friends  ?  "  she  said,  softly. 

"  Very,"  assented  Hardy.  "  Such  good  friends 
that  I  have  been  devoting  a  lot  of  time  lately  to 
considering  ways  and  means  of  getting  him  out  of 
the  snares  of  the  Kybirds." 

"  I  should  have  thought  that  that  was  his  affair," 
said  Miss  Nugent,  haughtily. 

"  Mine,  too,"  said  Hardy.  "  I  don't  want  him 
to  marry  Miss  Kybird." 

For  the  first  time  since  the  engagement  Miss  Nu- 
gent almost  approved  of  it.  "  Why  not  let  him 
know  your  wishes  ?  "  she  said,  gently.  "  Surely 
that  would  be  sufficient." 

"  But  you  don't  want  them  to  marry  ? "  said 
Hardy,  ignoring  the  remark. 

"  I  don't  want  my  brother  to  do  anything 
shabby,"  replied  the  girl ;  "  but  I  shouldn't  be 
sorry,  of  course,  if  they  did  not." 

"  Very  good,"  said  Hardy.  "  Armed  with  your 
consent  I  shall  leave  no  stone  unturned.  Nugent 
was  let  in  for  this,  and  I  am  going  to  get  him  out 
if  I  can.  All's  fair  in  love  and  war.  You  don't 
mind  my  doing  anything  shabby  ?  " 

"Not  in  the  least," replied  Miss  Nugent, promptly. 

The  reappearance  of  Mrs.  Kingdom  at  this  mo- 
ment saved  Mr.  Hardy  the  necessity  of  a  reply. 
Conversation  reverted  to  the  missing  captain,  and 

220 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Hardy  and  Mrs.  Kingdom  together  drew  such  a 
picture  of  the  two  captains  fraternizing  that  Miss 
Nugent  felt  that  the  millennium  itself  could  have  na 
surprises  for  her. 

"  He  has  improved  very  much,"  said  Mrs.  King- 
dom, after  the  door  had  closed  behind  their  visitor  ; 
"  so  thoughtful." 

"  He's  thoughtful  enough,"  agreed  her  niece. 

"  He  is  what  I  call  extremely  considerate,"  pur- 
sued the  elder  lady,  "  but  I'm  afraid  he  is  weak ; 
anybody  could  turn  him  round  their  little  finger." 

"  I  believe  they  could,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  gaz- 
ing at  her  with  admiration,  "  if  he  wanted  to  be 
turned." 

The  ice  thus  broken,  Mr.  Hardy  spent  the  fol- 
lowing day  or  two  in  devising  plausible  reasons  for 
another  visit.  He  found  one  in  the  person  of  Mr. 
Wilks,  who,  having  been  unsuccessful  in  finding  his 
beloved  master  at  a  small  tavern  down  by  the  Lon- 
don docks,  had  returned  to  Sunwich,  by  no  means 
benefited  by  his  change  of  air,  to  learn  the  terrible 
truth  as  to  his  disappearance  from  Hardy. 

"  I  wish  they'd  Shanghaid  me  instead,"  he  said  to 
that  sympathetic  Hstener,  "  or  Mrs.  Silk." 

"Eh?  "  said  the  other,  staring. 

"  Wot'll  be  the  end  of  it  I  don't  know,"  said  Mr. 
Wilks,  laying  a  hand,  which  still  trembled,  on  the 
other'?  knee.     "  It's  got  about  that  she  saved  my 

221 


At  Sunwich  Port 

fife  by  'er  careful  nussing,  and  the  way  she  shakes 
*er  'ead  at  me  for  risking  my  valuable  life,  as  she 
calls  it,  going  up  to  London,  gives  me  the  shivers." 

"Nonsense,"  said  Hardy;  "she  can't  marry  you 
against  your  will.     Just  be  distantly  civil  to  her." 

"  *Ow  can  you  be  distantly  civil  when  she  lives 
just  opposite?"  inquired  the  steward,  querulously. 
"  She  sent  Teddy  over  at  ten  o'clock  last  night  to  rub 
«ny  chest  with  a  bottle  o*  liniment,  and  it's  no  good 
me  saying  I'm  all  right  when  she's  been  spending 
eighteen-pence  o'  good  money  over  the  stuff." 

"  She  can't  marry  you  unless  you  ask  her,"  said 
the  comforter. 

Mr.  Wilks  shook  his  head.  "  People  in  the  alley 
are  beginning  to  talk,"  he  said,  dolefully.  "  Just  as 
I  came  in  this  afternoon  old  George  Lee  screwed 
up  one  eye  at  two  or  three  women  wot  was  gossip- 
ing near,  and  when  I  asked  'im  wot  *e'd  got  to  wink 
about  he  said  that  a  bit  o'  wedding-cake  'ad  blowed 
in  his  eye  as  I  passed.  It  sent  them  silly  creeturs 
into  fits  a'most.'* 

"They'll  soon  get  tired  of  it,"  said  Hardy. 

Mr.  Wilks,  still  gloomy,  ventured  to  doubt  it, 
but  cheered  up  and  became  almost  bright  when  his 
visitor  announced  his  intention  of  trying  to  smooth 
over  matters  for  him  at  Equator  Lodge.  He  be- 
came quite  voluble  in  his  defence,  and  attached 
much  importance    to  the  fact  that  he  had  nursed 

323 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Miss  Nugent  when  she  was  in  long  clothes  and  had 

taught  her  to  whistle  like  an  angel  at  the  age  of  five. 

"  I've  felt  being  cut  adrift  by  her  more  than  any- 


"  He  said  that  a  bit  o*  wedding-cake  'ad  blowed  in  bk  qrc** 

thing,"  he  said,  brokenly.  "  Nine-an*-twenty  years 
I  sailed  with  the  cap'n  and  served  *im  faithful,  and 
this  is  my  reward." 

Hardy  pleaded  his  case  next  day.     Miss  Nugent 
223 


At  Sunwich  Port 

was  alone  when  he  called,  and,  moved  by  the  vivid 
picture  he  drew  of  the  old  man's  loneliness,  accord- 
ed her  fiill  forgiveness,  and  decided  to  pay  him  a 
visit  at  once.  The  fact  that  Hardy  had  not  been 
in  the  house  five  minutes  she  appeared  to  have 
overlooked. 

"  I'll  go  upstairs  and  put  my  hat  and  jacket  on 
and  go  now,"  she  said,  brightly. 

"  That's  very  kind  of  you,"  said  Hardy.  His 
voice  expressed  admiring  gratitude ;  but  he  made 
no  sign  of  leaving  his  seat. 

"  You  don't  mind  ? "  said  Miss  Nugent,  pausing 
in  front  of  him  and  slightly  extending  her  hand. 

"  Not  in  the  least,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but  I  want 
to  see  Wilks  myself.  Perhaps  you'll  let  me  walk 
down  with  you  ?  " 

The  request  was  so  unexpected  that  the  girl  had 
no  refusal  ready.  She  hesitated  and  was  lost.  Fi- 
nally, she  expressed  a  fear  that  she  might  keep  him 
waiting  too  long  while  she  got  ready — a  fear  which 
he  politely  declined  to  consider. 

"  Well,  we'll  see,"  said  the  marvelling  Miss  Nu- 
gent to  herself  as  she  went  slowly  upstairs.  "  He's 
got  impudence  enough  for  forty." 

She  commenced  her  preparations  for  seeing  Mr. 
Wilks  by  wrapping  a  shawl  round  her  shoulders  and 
reclining  in  an  easy-chair  with  a  novel.  It  was  a 
good  story,  but  the  room  was  very  cold,  and  even 

224 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  pleasure  of  snubbing  an  intrusive  young  man 
did  not  make  amends  for  the  lack  of  warmth.  She 
read  and  shivered  for  an  hour,  and  then  with  chilled 
fingers  lit  the  gas  and  proceeded  to  array  herself  for 
the  journey. 

Her  temper  was  not  improved  by  seeing  Mr. 
Hardy  sitting  in  the  dark  over  a  good  fire  when  she 
got  downstairs. 

"  I'm  afraid  I've  kept  you  waiting,"  she  said, 
crisply. 

"  Not  at  all,"  said  Hardy.  "  I've  been  very  com- 
fortable." 

Miss  Nugent  repressed  a  shiver  and,  crossing  to 
the  fire,  thoughtlessly  extended  her  fingers  over  the 
blaze. 

"  I'm  afraid  you're  cold,"  said  Hardy. 

The  girl  looked  round  sharply.  His  face,  or  as 
much  of  it  as  she  could  see  in  the  firelight,  bore  a 
look  of  honest  concern  somewhat  at  variance  with 
the  quality  of  his  voice.  If  it  had  not  been  for  the 
absurdity  of  altering  her  plans  on  his  account  she 
would  have  postponed  her  visit  to  the  steward  until 
another  day. 

The  walk  to  Fullalove  Alley  was  all  too  short  for 
Jem  Hardy.  Miss  Nugent  stepped  along  with  the 
air  of  a  martyr  anxious  to  get  to  the  stake  and  have 
it  over,  and  she  answered  in  monosyllables  when  her 
companion  pointed  out  the  beauties  of  the  night, 

825 


At  Sunwich  Port 

A  bitter  east  wind  blew  up  the  road  and  set  her 
yearning  for  the  joys  of  Mr.  Wilks's  best  room. 

"  It's  very  cold,"  she  said,  shivering. 

Hardy  assented,  and  reluctantly  quickened  his  pace 
to  keep  step  with  hers.  Miss  Nugent  with  her  chin 
sunk  in  a  fiir  boa  looked  neither  to  the  right  nor 
the  left,  and  turning  briskly  into  the  alley,  turned 
the  handle  of  Mr.  Wilks's  door  and  walked  in, 
leaving  her  companion  to  follow. 

The  steward,  who  was  smoking  a  long  pipe  over 
the  fire,  looked  round  in  alarm.  Then  his  expres- 
sion changed,  and  he  rose  and  stammered  out  a  wel- 
come. Two  minutes  later  Miss  Nugent,  enthroned 
in  the  best  chair  with  her  toes  on  the  fender,  gave 
her  faithful  subject  a  free  pardon  and  full  permission 
to  make  hot  coffee. 

"  And  don't  you  ever  try  and  deceive  me  again, 
Sam,"  she  said,  as  she  sipped  the  comforting  bever- 
age. 

"  No,  miss,"  said  the  steward,  humbly.  "  Fve  *ad 
a  lesson.  I'll  never  try  and  Shanghai  anybody  else 
agin  as  long  as  I  live." 

After  this  virtuous  sentiment  he  sat  and  smoked 
placidly,  with  occasional  curious  glances  divided  be- 
tween his  two  visitors.  An  idle  and  ridiculous  idea, 
which  occurred  to  him  in  connection  with  them,  was 
dismissed  at  once  as  too  preposterous  for  a  sensible 
steward  to  entertain. 

226 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Mrs.  Kingdom  well  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  Quite  well,"  said  the  girl.  "  If  you  take  mc 
home,  Sam,  you  shall  see  her,  and  be  forgiven  by 
her,  too." 

"  Thankee,  miss,"  said  the  gratified  steward. 

"  And  what  about  your  foot,  Wiiks  ? "  said 
Hardy,  somewhat  taken  aback  by  this  arrange- 
ment. 

"  Foot,  sir  ?  "  said  the  unconscious  Mr.  Wilks  ; 
"  wot  foot  ?  " 

"  Why,  the  bad  one,"  said  Hardy,  with  a  signifi- 
cant glance. 

"  Ho,  that  one  ?  "  said  Mr.  Wilks,  beating  time 
and  waiting  further  revelations. 

"  Do  you  think  you  ought  to  use  it  much  ?  "  in- 
quired Hardy. 

Mr.  Wilks  looked  at  it,  or,  to  be  more  exact, 
looked  at  both  of  them,  and  smiled  weakly.  His 
previous  idea  recurred  to  him  with  renewed  force 
now,  and  several  things  in  the  young  man's  behav- 
iour, hitherto  disregarded,  became  suddenly  charged 
with  significance.  Miss  Nugent  looked  on  with  an 
air  of  cynical  interest. 

"  Better  not  run  any  risk,"  said  Hardy,  gravely. 
"  I  shall  be  very  pleased  to  see  Miss  Nugent  home, 
if  she  will  allow  me." 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  it  ? "  inquired  Miss 
Nugent,  looking  him  full  in  the  fiice. 

227 


At   Sunwich  Port 

Hardy  hesitated.  Diplomacy,  he  told  himself, 
was  one  thing;  lying  another.  He  passed  the 
question  on  to  the  rather  badly  used  Mr,  Wilks. 

"  Matter  with  it  ?  "  repeated  that  gentleman,  glar- 
ing at  him  reproachfully.  "It's  got  shootin'  pains 
right  up  it.  I  suppose  it  was  walking  miles  and 
miles  every  day  in  London,  looking  for  the  cap'n, 
was  too  much  for  it." 

"  Is  it  too  bad  for  you  to  take  me  home,  Sam?'* 
inquired  Miss  Nugent,  softly. 

The  perturbed  Mr.  Wilks  looked  from  one  to 
the  other.  As  a  sportsman  his  sympathies  were 
with  Hardy,  but  his  duty  lay  with  the  girl. 

"  I'll  do  my  best,  miss,"  he  said;  and  got  up  and 
limped,  very  well  indeed  for  a  first  attempt,  round 
the  room. 

Then  Miss  Nugent  did  a  thing  which  was  a 
puzzle  to  herself  for  some  time  afterwards.  Hav- 
ing won  the  victory  she  deliberately  threw  away 
the  fruits  of  it,  and  declining  to  allow  the  steward 
to  run  any  risks,  accepted  Hardy's  escort  home. 
Mr.  Wilks  watched  them  from  the  door,  and 
with  his  head  in  a  whirl  caused  by  the  night's 
proceedings  mixed  himself  a  stiff  glass  of  grog  to 
set  it  right,  and  drank  to  the  health  of  both  of 
them. 

The  wind  had  abated  somewhat  in  violence  as 
they  walked  home,  and,  moreover,  they  had  their 

228 


At  Sunwich  Port 

backs  to  it.     The  walk  was  slower  and  more  enjoy- 
able in   many  respects   than  the  walk  out.     In  an 


**  Mr.  Wilks  drank  to  the  health  of  both  of  them.'* 

unusually  soft  mood  she  replied  to  his  remarks  and 
stole  little  critical  glances  up  at  him.     When  they 

229 


At  Sunwich  Port 

reached  the  house  she  stood  a  little  while  at  the 
gate  gazing  at  the  starry  sky  and  listening  to  the 
crash  of  the  sea  on  the  beach. 

"  It  is  a  fine  night,"  she  said,  as  she  shook  hands. 

"The  best  I  have  ever  known,"  said  Hardy. 
«  Good-bye," 


ajo 


CHAPTER   XVII 

THE  weeks  passed  all  too  quickly  for  James 
Hardy.  He  saw  Kate  Nugent  at  her  own 
home  ;  met  her,  thanks  to  the  able  and 
hearty  assistance  of  Mr.  Wilks,  at  FuUalove  Alley, 
and  on  several  occasions  had  the  agreeable  task  of 
escorting  her  back  home. 

He  cabled  to  his  father  for  news  of  the  illustrious 
stowaway  immediately  the  Conqueror  was  notified  as 
having  reached  Port  Elizabeth.  The  reply — "  Left 
ship  " — confirmed  his  worst  fears,  but  he  cheerfully 
accepted  Mrs.  Kingdom's  view  that  the  captain,  in 
order  to  relieve  the  natural  anxiety  of  his  family, 
had  secured  a  passage  on  the  first  vessel  homeward 
bound. 

Captain  Hardy  was  the  first  to  reach  home.  In 
the  early  hours  of  a  fine  April  morning  the  Ctm- 
queror  steamed  slowly  into  Sunwich  Harbour,  and 
in  a  very  short  time  the  town  was  revelling  in  a  de- 
scription of  Captain  Nugent's  first  voyage  before 
the  mast  from  lips  which  were  never  tired  of  repeat- 
ing it.  Down  by  the  waterside  Mr.  Nathan  Smith 
found  that  he  had  suddenly  attained  the  rank  of  a 

231 


At  Sunwich  Port 

popular  hero,  and  his  modesty  took  alarm  at  the 
publicity  afforded  to  his  action.     It  was  extremely 

3 


aexlr^ 


*  A  popular  hero." 


distasteful  to  a  man  who  ran  a  quiet  business  on 
old-fashioned  lines  and  disbelieved  in  advertisement. 
He  lost  three  lodgers  the  same  day. 
,     232 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Jem  Hardy  was  one  of  the  few  people  in  Sun- 
wich for  whom  the  joke  had  no  charms,  and  he 
betrayed  such  an  utter  lack  of  sympathy  with  his 
father's  recital  that  the  latter  accused  him  at  last  of 
wanting  a  sense  of  humour. 

"  I  don't  see  anything  amusing  in  it/'  said  his 
son,  stiffly. 

Captain  Hardy  recapitulated  one  or  two  choice 
points,  and  was  even  at  some  pains  to  explain 
them. 

"  I  can't  see  any  fun  in  it,"  repeated  his  son. 
"  Your  behaviour  seems  to  me  to  have  been  de- 
plorable." 

"  What  ? "  shouted  the  captain,  hardly  able  to 
believe  his  ears. 

"  Captain  Nugent  was  your  guest,"  pursued  the 
other ;  "  he  got  on  your  ship  by  accident,  and  he 
should  have  been  treated  decently  as  a  saloon  pas- 
senger." 

"  And  been  apologized  to  for  coming  on  board,  I 
suppose  ?  "  suggested  the  captain. 

"  It  wouldn't  have  been  amiss,"  was  the  reply. 

The  captain  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  regarded 
him  thoughtfully.  "  I  can't  think  what's  the  matter 
with  you,  Jem,"  he  said. 

"  Ordinary  decent  ideas,  that's  all,"  said  his  son, 
scathingly. 

"  There's  sometliing  more  in  it  than  that,"  said 
233 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  other,  positively.  "  I  don't  like  to  see  this 
love-your-enemy  business  with  you,  Jem ;  it  ain't 
natural  to  you.  Has  your  health  been  all  right 
while  I've  been  away  ?  " 

"  Of  course  it  has,"  said  his  son,  curtly.  "If 
yoa  didn't  want  Captain  Nugent  aboard  with  you 
why  didn't  you  put  him  ashore  ?  It  wouldn't  have 
delayed  you  long.  Think  of  the  worry  and  anxiety 
you've  caused  poor  Mrs.  Kingdom." 

"A  holiday  for  her,"  growled  the  captain. 

"It  has  affected  her  health,"  continued  his  son  ; 
"  and  besides,  think  of  his  daughter.  She's  a  high- 
spirited  girl,  and  all  Sunwich  is  laughing  over  her 
father's  mishap," 

"  Nugent  fell  into  his  own  trap,"  exclaimed  the 
captain,  impatiently.  "  And  it  won't  do  that  girl  of 
his  any  harm  to  be  taken  down  a  peg  or  two.  Do 
her  good.  Knock  some  of  the  nonsense  out  of 
her." 

"  That's  not  the  way  to  speak  of  a  lady,"  sdd 
Jem,  hotly. 

The  offended  captain  regarded  him  somewhat 
sourly  ;  then  his  face  changed,  and  he  got  up  from 
his  chair  and  stood  before  his  son  with  consternation 
depicted  on  every  feature. 

"You  don't  mean  to  tell  me,"  he  said,  slowly; 
"  you  don't  mean  to  tell  me  that  you're  thinking 
anything  of  Kate  Nugent  ?  " 

234 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Why  not  ?  "  demanded  the  other,  defiantly  ; 
"  why  shouldn't  I  ?  " 

Captain  Hardy,  whistling  softly,  made  no  reply, 
but  still  stood  eyeing  him. 

"  I  thought  there  was  some  other  reason  for  your 
consideration  besides  '  ordinary  decent  ideas,'  "  he 
said,  at  last.  "  When  did  it  come  on  ?  How  long 
have  you  had  it  ? " 

Mr.  Hardy,  jun.,  in  a  studiously  unfilial  speech, 
intimated  that  these  pleasantries  were  not  to  his 
taste. 

"  No,  of  course  not,"  said  the  captain,  resuming 
his  seat.  "  Well,  I'm  sorry  if  it's  serious,  Jem,  but 
I  never  dreamt  you  had  any  ideas  in  that  quarter. 
If  I  had  I'd  have  given  old  Nugent  the  best  bunk 
on  the  ship  and  sung  him  to  sleep  myself.  Has 
she  given  you  any  encouragement  ?  " 

"  Don't  know,"  said  Jem,  who  found  the  con- 
versation awkward. 

"  Extraordinary  thing,"  said  the  captain,  shaking 
his  head,  "  extraordinary.      Like  a  play." 

"  Play  ?  "  said  his  son,  sharply. 

"  Play,"  repeated  his  father,  firmly.  "  What  is 
the  name  of  it  ?  I  saw  it  once  at  Newcastle.  The 
lovers  take  poison  and  die  across  each  other's  chests 
because  their  people  won't  let  'em  marry.  And 
that  reminds  me.  I  saw  some  phosphor-paste  in  the 
kitchen,  Jem.     Whose  is  it  ?  " 

235 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  I'm  glad  to  be  the  means  of  affording  you 
amusement,"  said  Jem,  grinding  his  teeth. 

Captain  Hardy  regarded  him  affectionately.  "  Go 
easy,  my  lad,"  he  said,  equably  ;  "  go  easy.  If  I'd 
known  it  before,  things  would  have  been  different ; 
as  I  didn't,  we  must  make  the  best  of  it.  She's  a 
pretty  girl,  and  a  good  one,  too,  for  all  her  airs,  but 
I'm  afraid  she's  too  fond  of  her  father  to  overlook 
this." 

"  That's  where  you've  made  such  a  mess  of 
things,"  broke  in  his  son.  "  Why  on  earth  you  two 
old  men  couldn't " 

"  Easy,"  said  the  startled  captain.  "  When  you 
are  in  the  early  fifties,  my  lad,  your  ideas  about  age 
will  be  more  accurate.  Besides,  Nugent  is  seven  or 
eight  years  older  than  I  am." 

"  What  became  of  him  ?  "  inquired  Jem. 

"  He  was  off  the  moment  we  berthed,"  said  his 
father,  suppressing  a  smile.  "  I  don't  mean  that  he 
bolted — he'd  got  enough  starch  left  in  him  not  to 
do  that — but  he  didn't  trespass  on  our  hospitality  a 
moment  longer  than  was  necessary.  I  heard  that  he 
got  a  passage  home  on  the  Columbus,  He  knew  the 
master.  She  sailed  sorne  time  before  us  for  London. 
I  thought  he'd  have  been  home  by  this." 

It  was  not  until  two  days  later,  however,  that  the 
gossip  in  Sunwich  received  a  pleasant  fillip  by  the  ar- 
rival of  the  injured  captain.     He  came  down  from 

236 


At  Sunwich  Port 

London  by  the  midday  train,  and,  disdaining  the 
privacy  of  a  cab,  prepared  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  his 
fellow-townsmen. 

A  weaker  man  would  have  made  a  detour,  but  he 
held  a  direct  course,  and  with  a  curt  nod  to  acquaint- 
ances who  would  have  stopped  him  walked  swiftly 
in  the  direction  of  home.  Tradesmen  ran  to  their 
shop-doors  to  see  him,  and  smoking  amphibians 
lounging  at  street  corners  broke  out  into  sunny 
smiles  as  he  passed.  He  met  these  annoyances  with 
a  set  face  and  a  cold  eye,  but  his  views  concerning 
children  were  not  improved  by  the  crowd  of  small 
creatures  which  fluttered  along  the  road  ahead  of 
him  and,  hopeful  of  developments,  clustered  round 
the  gate  as  he  passed  in. 

It  is  the  pride  and  privilege  of  most  returned  wan- 
derers to  hold  forth  at  great  length  concerning  their 
adventures,  but  Captain  Nugent  was  commendably 
brief  At  first  he  could  hardly  be  induced  to  speak 
of  them  at  all,  but  the  necessity  of  contradicting  sto- 
ries which  Bella  had  gleaned  for  Mrs.  Kingdom  from 
friends  in  town  proved  too  strong  for  him.  He 
ground  his  teeth  with  suppressed  fury  as  he  listened 
to  some  of  them.  The  truth  was  bad  enough,  and 
his  daughter,  sitting  by  his  side  with  her  hand  in 
his,  was  trembling  with  indignation. 

"  Poor  father,"  she  said,  tenderly  ;  "  what  a  time 
you  must  have  had." 

237 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  It  won't  bear  thinking  of,"  said  Mrs.  Kingdom, 
not  to  be  outdone  in  sympathy. 


*•  He  met  these  annoyances  with  a  set  fece." 

"Well,   don't   think    of    it,"    said    the   captain, 
shortly. 

Mrs.  Kingdom  sighed  as  though  to  indicate  that 

238 


At  Sunwich  Port 

her  feelings  were  not  to  be  suppressed  in  that  simple 
fashion. 

"  The  anxiety  has  been  very  great,"  she  said,  shak- 
ing her  head,  "  but  everybody's  been  very  kind.  I'm 
sure  all  our  friends  have  been  most  sympathetic.  I 
couldn't  go  outside  the  house  without  somebody 
stopping  me  and  asking  whether  there  was  any  news 
of  you.  I'd  no  idea  you  were  so  popular  ;  even  the 
milkman " 

"  I'd  like  some  tea,"  interrupted  the  captain, 
roughly  ;  "  that  is,  when  you  have  finished  your  very 
interesting  information." 

Mrs.  Kingdom  pursed  her  lips  together  to  sup- 
press the  words  she  was  afraid  to  utter,  and  rang 
the  bell. 

"  Your  master  would  like  some  tea,"  she  said, 
primly,  as  Bella  appeared.  "  He  has  had  a  long 
journey." 

The  captain  started  and  eyed  her  fiercely  ;  Mrs. 
Kingdom,  her  good  temper  quite  restored  by  this 
little  retort,  folded  her  hands  in  her  lap  and  gazed 
at  him  with  renewed  sympathy. 

"  We  all  missed  you  very  much,"  said  Kate, 
softly.  "  But  we  had  no  fears  once  we  knew  that 
you  were  at  sea." 

"  And  I  suppose  some  of  the  sailors  were  kind  to 
you  ? "  suggested  the  unfortunate  Mrs.  Kingdom. 
"  They  are  rough  fellows,  but  I  suppose  some  of 

239 


At  Sunwich  Port 

them  have  got  their  hearts  In  the  right  place.  I 
daresay  they  were  sorry  to  see  you  in  such  a  posi- 
tion." 

The  captain's  reply  was  of  a  nature  known  to 
Mrs,  Kingdom  and  her  circle  as  "  snapping  one's 
head  off."  He  drew  his  chair  to  the  table  as  Bella 
brought  in  the  tray  and,  accepting  a  cup  of  tea,  be- 
gan to  discuss  with  his  daughter  the  events  which 
had  transpired  in  his  absence. 

"  There  is  no  news,"  interposed  Mrs.  Kingdom, 
during  an  interval.  "  Mr.  Hall's  aunt  died  the 
other  day." 

"  Never  heard  of  her,"  said  the  captain. 

"  Neither  had  I,  till  then,"  said  his  sister.  "  What 
a  lot  of  people  there  are  one  never  hears  of,  John." 

The  captain  stared  at  her  offensively  and  went 
on  with  his  meal.     A  long  silence  ensued. 

"  1  suppose  you  didn't  get  to  hear  of  the  cable 
that  was  sent  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Kingdom,  making  an- 
other effort  to  arouse  interest. 

"  What  cable  ?  "  inquired  her  brother. 

"The  one  Mr.  Hardy  sent  to  his  father  about 
you,"  replied  Mrs.  Kingdom. 

The  captain  pushed  his  chair  back  and  stared  her 
full  in  the  face.  "  What  do  you  mean  ? "  he  de- 
manded. 

His  sister  explained. 

"Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you've  been 
240 


At  Sunwich  Port 

speaking  to  young  Hardy  ? "  exclaimed  the  cap- 
tain. 

"  I  could  hardly  help  doing  so,  when  he  came 
here,"  returned  his  sister,  with  dignity.  "  He  has 
been  very  anxious  about  you," 

Captain  Nugent  rose  and  strode  up  and  down  the 
room.  Then  he  stopped  and  glanced  sharply  at  his 
daughter. 

"  Were  you  here  when  he  called?  "  he  demanded. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply. 

"And  you — you  spoke  to  him? "roared  the  cap- 
tain. 

"  I  had  to  be  civil,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  calmly  ; 
"  I'm  not  a  sea-captain." 

Her  father  walked  up  and  down  the  room  again. 
Mrs.  Kingdom,  terrified  at  the  storm  she  had 
evoked,  gazed  helplessly  at  her  niece. 

"  What  did  he  come  here  for?  "  said  the  captain. 

Miss  Nugent  glanced  down  at  her  plate.  "  I 
can't  imagine,"  she  said,  demurely.  "  The  first  time 
he  came  to  tell  us  what  had  become  of  you." 

The  captain  stopped  in  his  walk  and  eyed  her 
sternly.  "  1  am  very  fortunate  in  my  children,'* 
he  said,  slowly.  "  One  is  engaged  to  marry  the 
daughter  of  the  shadiest  rascal  in  Sunwich,  and 
the  other " 

"  And  the  other  ?  "  said  his  daughter,  proudly,  as 
he  paused. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  The  other,"  said  the  captain,  as  he  came  round 
the  table  and  put  his  hand  on  her  shoulder,  "  is  my 
dear  and  obedient  daughter." 

"  Yes,"  said  Miss  Nugent ;  "  but  that  isn't  what 
you  were  going  to  say.  You  need  not  worry  about 
me ;  1  shall  not  do  anything  that  would  displease 
you." 


242 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

WITH  a  view  to  avoiding  the  awkwardness 
of  a  chance  meeting  with  any  member  of 
the  Nugent  family  Hardy  took  the  sea 
road  on  his  way  to  the  office  the  morning  after  the 
captain's  return.  Common  sense  told  him  to  leave 
matters  for  the  present  to  the  healing  hand  of 
Time,  and  to  cultivate  habits  of  self-effacement 
by  no  means  agreeable  to  one  of  his  tempera- 
ment. 

Despite  himself  his  spirits  rose  as  he  walked.  It 
was  an  ideal  spring  morning,  cool  and  sunny.  The 
short  turf  by  the  side  of  the  road  was  fragrant  under 
his  heel,  and  a  light  wind  stirred  the  blueness  of  the 
sea.  On  the  beach  below  two  grizzled  men  of  rest- 
ful habit  were  endeavouring  to  make  an  old  boat 
waterproof  with  red  and  green  paint. 

A  long  figure  approaching  slowly  from  the  op- 
posite direction  broke  into  a  pleasant  smile  as  he 
drew  near  and  quickened  his  pace  to  meet  him. 

"  You're  out  early,"  said  Hardy,  as  the  old  man 
stopped  and  turned  with  him. 

"  'Ave  to  be,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  darkly ;  "  out 
243 


At  Sunwich   Port 

early  and  'ome  late,  and  more  often  than  not  getting 
my  dinner  out.     That's  my  life  nowadays." 

"  Can't  you  let  her  see  that  her  attentions  are  un- 
desirable?" inquired  Hardy,  gravely. 


"  Can't  you  let  her  «ee  that  her  attentions  are  undesirable  ? " 

**  I  can't  be  rude  to  a  woman,"  said  the  steward, 
with  a  melancholy  smile ;  "  if  I  could,  my  life  would 
ha*  been  very  different.  She's  always  stepping 
across  to  ask  my  advice  about  Teddy,  or  something 

244 


At  Sunwich  Port 

o'  that  sort.  All  last  week  she  kept  borrowing  my 
frying-pan,  so  at  last  by  way  of  letting  'er  see  I 
didn't  like  it  I  went  out  and  bought  'er  one  for  her- 
self. What's  the  result  ?  Instead  o'  being  offended 
she  went  out  and  bought  me  a  couple  o*  neck-ties. 
When  I  didn't  wear  'em  she  pretended  it  was  be- 
cause I  didn't  like  the  colour,  and  she  went  and 
bought  two  more.     I'm  wearing  one  now." 

He  shook  his  head  ruefully,  and  Hardy  glanced 
at  a  tie  which  would  have  paled  the  glories  of  a 
rainbow.  For  some  time  they  walked  along  in 
silence. 

"  I'm  going  to  pay  my  respects  to  Cap'n  Nugent 
this  afternoon,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  suddenly. 

"  Ah,"  said  the  other. 

"  I  knew  what  it  'ud  be  with  them  two  on  the 
same  ship,"  continued  Mr.  Wilks.  "  I  didn't  say 
nothing  when  you  was  talking  to  Miss  Kate,  but  I 
knew  well  enough." 

"Ah,"  said  Hardy  again.  There  was  no  mis- 
taking the  significance  of  the  steward's  remarks,  and 
he  found  them  somewhat  galling.  It  was  all  very 
well  to  make  use  of  his  humble  friend,  but  he 
had  no  desire  to  discuss  his  matrimonial  projects 
with  him. 

"  It's  a  great  pity,"  pursued  the  unconscious  Mr. 
Wilks,  "just  as  everything  seemed  to  be  going  on 
smoothly  ;  but  while  there's  life  there's  'ope." 

245 


At  Sunwich  Port 

*'  That's  a  smart  barge  over  there,"  said  Hardy, 
pointing  it  out. 

Mr,  Wilks  nodded.  "  I  shall  keep  my  eyes  open 
this  afternoon,"  he  said  reassuringly.  "  And  if  I 
get  a  chance  of  putting  in  a  word  it'll  be  put  in. 
Twenty-nine  years  1  sailed  with  the  cap'n,  and  if 
there's  anybody  knows  his  weak  spots  it's  me." 

He  stopped  as  they  reached  the  town  and  said 
"  good-bye."  He  pressed  the  young  man's  hand 
sympathetically,  and  a  wink  of  intense  artfulness 
gave  point  to  his  last  remark. 

"  There's  always  Sam  Wilks's  cottage,"  he  said, 
in  a  husky  whisper  ;  "  and  if  two  of  'is  friends  should 
'appen  to  meet  there,  who'd  be  the  wiser  ?  " 

He  gazed  benevolently  after  the  young  man's 
retreating  figure  and  continued  his  stroll,  his  own 
troubles  partly  forgotten  in  the  desire  to  assist  his 
friends.  It  would  be  a  notable  feat  for  the  humble 
steward  to  be  the  means  of  bringing  the  young 
people  together  and  thereby  bringing  to  an  end  the 
feud  of  a  dozen  years.  He  pictured  himself  eventu- 
ally as  the  trusted  friend  and  adviser  of  both  families, 
and  in  one  daring  flight  of  fancy  saw  himself  hob- 
nobbing with  the  two  captains  over  pipes  and  whisky. 

Neatly  dressed  and  carrying  a  small  offering  of 
wallflowers,  he  set  out  that  afternoon  to  call  on  his  old 
master,  giving,  as  he  walked,  the  last  touches  to  a 
little  speech  of  welcome  which  he  had  prepared  dur» 

246 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ing  dinner.  It  was  a  happy  effort,  albeit  a  trifle 
laboured,  but  Captain  Nugent's  speech,  the  inspira- 
tion of  the  moment,  gave  it  no  chance. 

He  started  the  moment  the  bowing  Mr.  Wilks 
entered  the  room,  his  voice  rising  gradudly  from 
low,  bitter  tones  to  a  hurricane  note  which  Bella 
could  hear  in  the  kitchen  without  even  leaving  her 
chair.  Mr.  Wilks  stood  dazed  and  speechless  be- 
fore him,  holding  the  wallflowers  in  one  hand  and 
his  cap  in  the  other.  In  this  attitude  he  listened  to 
a  description  of  his  character  drawn  with  the  loving 
skill  of  an  artist  whose  whole  heart  was  in  his  work, 
and  who  seemed  never  tired  of  filling  in  details. 

"  If  you  ever  have  the  hardihood  to  come  to  my 
house  again,"  he  concluded,  "  I'll  break  every  bone 
in  your  misshapen  body.     Get !  " 

Mr.  Wilks  turned  and  groped  his  way  to  the 
door.  Then  he  went  a  little  way  back  with  some 
idea  of  defending  himself,  but  the  door  of  the  room 
was  slammed  in  his  face.  He  walked  slowly  down 
the  path  to  the  road  and  stood  there  for  some  time 
in  helpless  bewilderment.  In  all  his  sixty  years  of 
life  his  feelings  had  never  been  so  outraged.  His 
cap  was  still  in  his  hand,  and,  with  a  helpless  gest- 
ure, he  put  it  on  and  scattered  his  floral  offering  in 
the  road.  Then  he  made  a  bee-line  for  the  Two 
Schooners. 

Though  convivial  by  nature  and  ever  free  with 
247 


At  Sunwich  Port 

his  money,  he  sat  there  drinking  alone  in  silent 
misery.  Men  came  and  went,  but  he  still  sat  there 
noting  with  mournful  pride  the  attention  caused  by 
his  unusual  bearing.  To  casual  inquiries  he  shook 
his  head  ;  to  more  direct  ones  he  only  sighed  heavily 
and  applied  himself  to  his  liquor.  Curiosity  increased 
with  numbers  as  the  day  wore  on,  and  the  steward, 
determined  to  be  miserable,  fought  manfully  against 
an  ever-increasing  cheerfulness  due  to  the  warming 
properties  of  the  ale  within. 

"  I  'ope  you  ain't  lost  nobody,  Sam  ?  "  said  a  dis- 
comfited inquirer  at  last. 

Mr.  Wilks  shook  his  head. 

"  You  look  as  though  you'd  lost  a  shilling  and 
found  a  ha'penny,"  pursued  the  other. 

"  Found  a  what  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Wilks,  wrin- 
kling his  forehead. 

"  A  ha'penny,"  said  his  friend. 

"Who  did?"  said  Mr.  Wilks. 

The  other  attempted  to  explain  and  was  ably 
assisted  by  two  friends,  but  without  avail ;  the  im- 
pression left  on  Mr.  Wilks's  mind  being  that  some- 
body had  got  a  shilling  of  his.  He  waxed  ex- 
ceeding bitter,  and  said  that  he  had  been  missing 
shillings  for  a  long  time. 

"You're  labourin'  under  a  mistake,  Sam,"  said 
the  first  speaker. 

Mr.  Wilks  laughed  scornfully  and  essayed  a 
248 


At  Sunwich  Port 

sneer,  while  his  friends,  regarding  his  contortions 
with  some  anxiety,  expressed  a  fear  that  he  was  not 
quite  himself.  To  this  suggestion  the  steward 
deigned  no  reply,  and  turning  to  the  landlord  bade 
him  replenish  his  mug. 

"  You've  'ad  enough,  Mr.  Wilks,"  said  that  gen- 
tleman, who  had  been  watching  him  for  some  time. 

Mr.  Wilks,  gazing  at  him  mistily,  did  not  at  first 
understand  the  full  purport  of  this  remark  ;  but 
when  he  did,  his  wrath  was  so  majestic  and  his  re- 
marks about  the  quality  of  the  brew  so  libellous  that 
the  landlord  lost  all  patience. 

"  You  get  off  home,"  he  said,  sharply. 

"  Listen  t'  me,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  impressively. 

"  I  don't  want  no  words  with  you,"  said  the  land- 
lord.    "  You  get  off  home  while  you  can." 

"  That's  right,  Sam,"  said  one  of  the  company, 
putting  his  hand  on  the  steward's  arm.  "  You  take 
his  advice." 

Mr.  Wilks  shook  the  hand  off  and  eyed  his  ad- 
viser ferociously.  Then  he  took  a  glass  from  the 
counter  and  smashed  it  on  the  floor.  The  next 
moment  the  bar  was  in  a  ferment,  and  the  landlord, 
gripping  Mr.  Wilks  round  the  middle,  skilfully 
piloted  him  to  the  door  and  thrust  him  into  the 
road. 

The  strong  air  blowing  from  the  sea  disordered 
the  steward's  faculties  still  further.     His  treatment 

249 


At  Sunwich  Port 

inside  was  forgotten,  and,  leaning  against  the  front 
of  the  tavern,  he  stood  open-mouthed,  gazing  at 
marvels.      Ships  in   the   harbour  suddenly  quitted 


"  He  took  a  glass  from  the  counter  and  smashed  it  on  the  floor.*' 

tiietr  native  element  and  were  drawn  up  into  the 
firmament ;  nobody  passed  but  twins. 

"  Evening,  Mr.  Wilks,"  said  a  voice. 

The  steward  peered  down  at  the  voice.  At  first 
250 


At  Sunwich  Port 

he  thought  it  was  another  case  of  twins,  but  looking 
close  he  saw  that  it  was  Mr.  Edward  Silk  alone. 
He  saluted  him  graciously,  and  then,  with  a  wave 
of  his  hand  toward  the  sky,  sought  to  attract  his 
attention  to  the  ships  there. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  unconscious  Mr.  Silk,  "  sign  of 
a  fine  day  to-morrow.    Are  you  going  my  way  ?  " 

Mr.  Wilks  smiled,  and  detaching  himself  from  the 
tavern  with  some  difficulty  just  saved  Mr.  Silk  from 
a  terrible  fall  by  clutching  him  forcibly  round  the 
neck.  The  ingratitude  of  Mr.  Silk  was  a  rebuff  to 
a  nature  which  was  at  that  moment  overflowing  with 
good  will.  For  a  moment  the  steward  was  half  in- 
cHned  to  let  him  go  home  alone,  but  the  reflection 
that  he  would  never  get  there  softened  him. 

"  Pull  yourself  t'gether,"  he  said,  gravely, 
"  Now,  'old  on  me." 

The  road,  as  they  walked,  rose  up  in  imitation  of 
the  shipping,  but  Mr.  Wilks  knew  now  the  expla- 
nation :  Teddy  Silk  was  intoxicated.  Very  gently 
he  leaned  towards  the  erring  youth  and  wagged  his 
head  at  him. 

"  Are  you  going  to  hold  up  or  aren't  you  ? "  de- 
manded Mr.  Silk,  shortly. 

The  steward  waived  the  question  ;  he  knew  from 
experience  the  futiUty  of  arguing  with  men  in  drink. 
The  great  thing  was  to  get  Teddy  Silk  home,  not 
to  argue  with  him.     He  smiled  good-temperedly 

251 


At  Sunwich  Port 

to  himself,  and  with  a  sudden  movement  pinned 
him  up  against  the  wall  in  time  to  arrest  another  fall. 


"The  great  thing  was  to  get  Teddy  Silk  home." 

With  frequent  halts  by  the  way,  during  which  the 
shortness  of  Mr.  Silk's  temper  furnished  Mr.  Wilks 

252 


At  Sunwich  Port 

with  the  texts  of  several  sermons,  none  of  whicn  nd 
finished,  they  at  last  reached  Fullalove  Alley,  and 
the  steward,  with  a  brief  exhortation  to  his  charge 
to  hold  his  head  up,  bore  down  on  Mrs.  Silk,  who 
was  sitting  in  her  doorway. 

"  I've  brought  'im  'ome,"  he  said,  steadying  him- 
self against  the  door-post ;  "  brought  'im  'ome." 

"  Brought  'im  *ome  ?  "  said  the  bewildered  Mrs. 
Silk. 

"  Don'  say  anything  to  *im,"  entreated  Mr. 
Wilks,  "  my  sake.     Thing  might  'appen  anybody." 

"  He's  been  like  that  all  the  way,"  said  Mr.  Silk, 
regarding  the  steward  with  much  disfavour.  "  I 
don't  know  why  I  troubled  about  him,  I'm  sure." 

"  Crowd  roun'  'im,"  pursued  the  imaginative  Mr- 
Wilks.     "  'Old  up,  Teddy." 

"  I'm  sure  it's  very  kind  of  you,  Mr.  Wilks,"  said 
the  widow,  as  she  glanced  at  a  Httle  knot  of  neigh- 
bours standing  near.  "  Will  you  come  inside  for  a 
minute  or  two  ?  " 

She  moved  the  chair  to  let  him  pass,  and  Mr. 
Wilks,  still  keeping  the  restraining  hand  of  age  on 
the  shoulder  of  intemperate  youth,  passed  in  and 
stood,  smiling  amiably,  while  Mrs.  Silk  lit  the  lamp 
and  placed  it  in  the  centre  of  the  table,  which  was 
laid  for  supper.  The  light  shone  on  a  knuckle 
of  boiled  pork,  a  home-made  loaf,  and  a  fresh-cut 
wedge  of  cheese. 

«53 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  I  suppose  you  won't  stay  and  pick  a  bit  o'  sup- 
per with  us  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Silk. 

"  Why  not  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Wilks. 

"  I'm  sure,  if  I  had  known,"  said  Mrs.  Silk,  as 
she  piloted  him  to  a  seat,  "  I'd  'ave  'ad  something 
nice.  There,  now !  If  I  'aven't  been  and  forgot 
the  beer." 

She  left  the  table  and  went  into  the  kitchen,  and 
Mr.  Wilks's  eyes  glistened  as  she  returned  with  a 
large  brown  jug  full  of  foaming  ale  and  filled  his 
glass. 

"  Teddy  mustn't  'ave  any,"  he  said,  sharply,  as 
she  prepared  to  fill  that  gentleman's  glass. 

"  Just  'alf  a  glass,"  she  said,  winsomely, 

"  Not  a  drop,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  firmly. 

Mrs.  Silk  hesitated,  and  screwing  up  her  forehead 
glanced  significantly  at  her  son.  "  'Ave  some  by- 
and-by,"  she  whispered. 

"  Give  me  the  jug,"  said  Mr.  Silk,  indignantly. 
"  What  are  you  listening  to  'im  for  ?  Can't  you 
see  what's  the  matter  with  'im  ?  " 

"  Not  to  'ave  it,"  said  Mr.  Wilks  ;  "  put  it  "ere." 

He  thumped  the  table  emphatically  with  his  hand, 
and  before  her  indignant  son  could  interfere  Mrs. 
Silk  had  obeyed.  It  was  the  last  straw.  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Silk  rose  to  his  feet  with  tremendous  effect 
and,  first  thrusting  his  plate  violently  away  from 
him,  went  out  into  the  night,  slamming  the  door 

254 


At  Sunwich  Port 

behind  him  with  such  violence  that  the  startled  Mr. 
Wilks  was  nearly  blown  out  of  his  chair. 

"He  don't  mean  nothing,"  said  Mrs.  Silk,  turning 
a  rather  scared  face  to  the  steward.  "  *E*s  a  bit 
jealous  of  you,  I  s'pose." 

Mr.  Wilks  shook  his  head.  Truth  to  tell,  he  was 
rather  at  a  loss  to  know  exactly  what  had  happened. 

"  And  then  there's  'is  love  afl^ir,"  sighed  Mrs. 
Silk.  "  He'll  never  get  over  the  loss  of  Amelia 
Kybird.  I  always  know  when  'e  'as  seen  her,  he's 
that  miserable  there's  no  getting  a  word  out  of  'im." 

Mr.  Wilks  smiled  vaguely  and  went  on  with  his 
supper,  and,  the  meal  finished,  allowed  himself  to 
be  installed  in  an  easy-chair,  while  his  hostess  cleared 
the  table.  He  sat  and  smoked  in  high  good  hu- 
mour with  himself,  the  occasional  remarks  he  made 
being  received  with  an  enthusiasm  which  they  sel- 
dom provoked  elsewhere. 

"  I  should  like  t'  sit  'ere  all  night,"  he  said,  at  last. 

"  I  don't  believe  it,"  said  Mrs.  Silk,  playfully. 

"  Like  t'  sit  'ere  all  night,"  repeated  Mr.  Wilks, 
somewhat  sternly.  "  All  nex*  day,  all  day  after,  day 
after  that,  day " 

Mrs.  Silk  eyed  him  softly.  "  Why  would  you 
like  to  sit  here  all  that  time  ? "  she  inquired,  in  a  low 
voice. 

«  B'cause,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  simply,  "  b'cause  I 
don't  feel's  if  I  can  stand.     Goo'-night." 

255 


At  Sunwich  Port 

He  closed  his  eyes  on  the  indignant  Mrs.  Silk 
and  '"^ell  fast  asleep.  It  was  a  sound  sleep  and 
dreamiess,  and  only  troubled  by  the  occasional  in- 
efFectnal  attempts  of  his  hostess  to  arouse  him.  She 
gave  up  the  attempt  at  last,  and  taking  up  a  pair 
of  socks  sat  working  thoughtfully  the  other  side  of 
the  fire-place. 

The  steward  awoke  an  hour  or  two  later,  and 
after  what  seemed  a  terrible  struggle  found  himself 
standing  at  the  open  door  with  the  cold  night  air 
blowing  in  his  face,  and  a  voice  which  by  an  eflPort 
of  memory  he  identified  as  that  of  Edward  Silk 
inviting  him  "  to  go  home  and  lose  no  time  about 
it."  Then  the  door  slammed  behind  him  and  he 
Stood  balancing  himself  with  some  difficulty  on  the 
step,  wondering  what  had  happened.  By  the  time 
he  had  walked  up  and  down  the  deserted  alley  three 
or  four  times  light  was  vouchsafed  to  him  and, 
shivering  slightly,  he  found  his  own  door  and  went 
to  bed. 


^S« 


CHAPTER    XIX 

ANY  hopes  which  Hardy  might  have  enter- 
tained as  to  the  attitude  of  Miss  Nugent 
were  dispelled  the  first  time  he  saw  her,  that 
dutiful  daughter  of  a  strong-willed  sire  favouring 
him  with  a  bow  which  was  exactly  half  an  inch  in 
depth  and  then  promptly  bestowing  her  gaze  else- 
where. He  passed  Captain  Nugent  next  day,  and 
for  a  week  afterwards  he  had  only  to  close  his  eyes 
to  see  in  all  its  appalling  virulence  the  glare  with 
which  that  gentleman  had  acknowledged  his  attempt 
at  recognition. 

He  fared  no  better  in  Fullalove  Alley,  a  visit  to 
Mr.  Wilks  eliciting  the  fact  that  that  delectable 
thoroughfare  had  been  put  out  of  bounds  for  Miss 
Nugent.  Moreover,  Mr.  Wilks  was  full  of  his 
own  troubles  and  anxious  for  any  comfort  and  ad- 
vice that  could  be  given  to  him.  All  the  alley 
knew  that  Mrs.  Silk  had  quarrelled  with  her  son 
over  the  steward,  and,  without  knowing  the  facts, 
spoke  their  mind  with  painful  freedom  concerning 
them. 

"  She  and  Teddy  don't  speak  to  each  other  now,'* 
257 


At  Sunwich  Port 


said  Mr.  Wilks,  gloomily,  "  and  to  'ear  people  talk 
you'd  think  it  was  my  fault." 

Hardy  gave   him  what  comfort  he  could.     He 

even  went  the  length  of 
saying  that  Mrs.  Silk 
was  a  fine  woman. 

"  She  acts  like  a  suf- 
fering martyr,"  exclaimed 
Mr.  Wilks.  "  She  comes 
over  'ere  dropping  hints 
that  people  are  talking 
about  us,  and  that  they 
ask  'er  awkward  ques- 
tions. Pretending  to 
misunderstand  *er  every 
time  is  enough  to  send 
me  crazy;  and  she's  so 
sudden  in  what  she  says 
there's  no  being  up  to  'er. 
On'y  this  morning  she 
asked  me  if  I  should  be 
sorry  if  she  died." 

"  What  did  you  say?" 
inquired  his  listener. 
"  I  said  *  yes,'  "  ad- 
mitted Mr.  Wilks,  reluctantly.  "  I  couldn't  say 
anything  else ;  but  I  said  that  she  wasn't  to  let  my 
feelings  interfere  with  'er  in  any  way." 

258 


'  Captain  Nugent." 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Hardy's  father  sailed  a  day  or  two  later,  and  aftei 
that  nothing  happened.  Equator  Lodge  was  an  im- 
pregnable fortress,  and  the  only  member  of  the  gar- 
rison he  saw  in  a  fortnight  was  Bella. 

His  depression  did  not  escape  the  notice  of  his 
partner,  who,  after  first  advising  love-philtres  and 
then  a  visit  to  a  well-known  specialist  for  diseases  of 
the  heart,  finally  recommended  more  work,  and  put 
a  generous  portion  of  his  own  on  to  the  young  man's 
desk.  Hardy,  who  was  in  an  evil  temper,  pitched 
it  on  to  the  floor  and,  with  a  few  incisive  remarks 
on  levity  unbecoming  to  age,  pursued  his  duties  in 
gloomy  silence. 

A  short  time  afterwards,  however,  he  had  to  grap- 
ple with  his  partner's  work  in  real  earnest.  For  the 
first  time  in  his  life  the  genial  shipbroker  was  laid  up 
with  a  rather  serious  illness.  A  chill  caught  while 
bathing  was  going  the  round  of  certain  unsuspected 
weak  spots,  and  the  patient,  who  was  of  an  in- 
quiring turn  of  mind,  was  taking  a  greater  interest 
in  medical  works  than  his  doctor  deemed  advis- 
able. 

"  Most  interesting  study,"  he  said,  faintly,  to 
Hardy,  as  the  latter  sat  by  his  bedside  one  evening 
and  tried  to  cheer  him  in  the  usual  way  by  telling 
him  that  there  was  nothing  the  matter  with  him. 
"  There  are  dozens  of  different  forms  of  liver  com- 
plaint alone,  and  I've  got  'em  all." 

259 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Liver  isn't  much,"  said  his  visitor,  with  the  con- 
fidence of  youth. 

"  Mine  is,"  retorted  the  invalid ;  "  it's  twice  its 
proper  size  and  still  growing.  Base  of  the  left  lung 
is  solidifying,  or  I'm  much  mistaken  ;  the  heart,  in- 
stead of  waltzing  as  is  suitable  to  my  time  of  life,  is 
doing  a  galop,  and  everything  else  is  as  wrong  as  it 
can  be." 

"  When  are  you  coming  back  ?  "  inquired  the 
other. 

"  Back  ?  "  repeated  Swarin.  "  Back  ?  You  haven*t 
been  listening.  I'm  a  wreck.  All  through  violating 
man's  primeval  instinct  by  messing  about  in  cold 
water.     What  is  the  news  ?  " 

Hardy  pondered  and  shook  his  head.  "  Nugent 
is  going  to  be  married  in  July,"  he  said,  at  last. 

"  He'd  better  have  had  that  trip  on  the  whaler," 
commented  Mr.  Swann ;  "  but  that  is  not  news. 
Nathan  Smith  told  it  me  this  morning." 

"  Nathan  Smith  ?  "  repeated  the  other,  in  surprise. 

"  I've  done  him  a  little  service,"  said  the  invalid. 
"  Got  him  out  of  a  mess  with  Garth  and  Co.  He's 
been  here  two  or  three  times,  and  I  must  confess  I 
find  him  a  most  alluring  rascal." 

"  Birds  of  a  feather "  began  Hardy,  supercil- 
iously. 

"  Don't  flatter  me,"  said  Swann,  putting  his  hand 
out  of  the   bed-clothes  with  a  deprecatory  gesture. 

260 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  I  am  not  worthy  to  sit  at  his  feet.  He  is  the  most 
amusing  knave  on  the  coast.  He  is  Hke  a  sunbeam 
in  a  sick  room  when  you  can  once  get  him  to  talk 
of  his  experiences.  Have  you  seen  young  Nugent 
lately  ?     Does  he  seem  cheerful  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  he  is  not,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  it's  natural  for  the  young  to  marry,"  said 
the  other,  gravely.  "  Murchison  will  be  the  next  to 
go,  I  expect." 

"  Possibly,"  returned  Hardy,  with  affected  calm- 
ness. 

"  Blaikie  was  saying  something  about  it  this  morn- 
ing," resumed  Swann,  regarding  him  from  half-closed 
lids,  "  but  he  was  punching  and  tapping  me  all  about 
the  ribs  while  he  was  talking,  and  I  didn't  catch  all 
he  said,  but  I  think  it's  all  arranged.  Murchison  is 
there  nearly  every  day,  I  understand  ;  I  suppose  you 
meet  him  there  ?  " 

Mr.  Hardy,  whistling  softly,  rose  and  walked 
round  the  room,  uncorking  medicine  bottles  and 
sniffing  at  their  contents.  A  smile  of  unaffected 
pleasure  lit  up  his  features  as  he  removed  the  stop- 
per from  one  particularly  pungent  mixture. 

"  Two  tablespoonfuls  three  times  a  day,"  he  read, 
slowly.  "  When  did  you  have  the  last,  Swann  ? 
Shall  I  ring  for  the  nurse  ?  " 

The  invalid  shook  his  head  impatiently.  "  You're 
an  ungrateful  dog,"  he  muttered, "  or  you  would  tell 

a6t 


At  Sunwich  Port 

me  how  your  affair  is  going.  Have  you  got  any 
chance  ?  " 

"  You're  getting  light-headed  now,"  said  Hardy, 
calmly.     "  I'd  better  go." 

"  All  right,  go  then,"  responded  the  invalid  ;  "  but 


'Sniffing  at  their  contents." 
262 


At  Sunwich  Port 

if  you  lose  that  girl  just  for  the  want  of  a  little  skilled 
advice  from  an  expert,  you'll  never  forgive  yourself 
— I'm  serious." 

"  Well,  you  must  be  ill  then,"  said  the  younger 
man,  with  anxiety. 

"  Twice,"  said  Mr.  Swann,  lying  on  his  back  and 
apparently  addressing  the  ceiling,  "twice  I  have 
given  this  young  man  invaluable  assistance,  and 
each  time  he  has  bungled." 

Hardy  laughed  and,  the  nurse  returning  to  the 
room,  bade  him  "  good-bye  "  and  departed.  After 
the  close  atmosphere  of  the  sick  room  the  air  was 
delicious,  and  he  walked  along  slowly,  deep  in 
thought.  From  Nathan  Smith  his  thoughts  wan- 
dered to  Jack  Nugent  and  his  unfortunate  engage- 
ment, and  from  that  to  Kate  Nugent.  For  months 
he  had  been  revolving  impossible  schemes  in  his 
mind  to  earn  her  gratitude,  and  possibly  that  of  the 
captain,  by  extricating  Jack.  In  the  latter  connec- 
tion he  was  also  reminded  of  that  unhappy  victim 
of  unrequited  affection,  Edward  Silk. 

It  was  early  to  go  indoors,  and  the  house  was  dull. 
He  turned  and  retraced  his  steps,  and,  his  thoughts 
reverting  to  his  sick  partner,  smiled  as  he  remem- 
bered remarks  which  that  irresponsible  person  had 
made  at  various  times  concerning  the  making  of  his 
last  will  and  testament.  Then  he  came  to  a  sudden 
standstill  as  a  wild,  forlorn-hope  kind  of  idea  sud- 

263 


At  Sunwich  Port 

denly  occurred  to  him.  He  stood  for  some  time 
thinking,  then  walked  a  little  way,  and  then  stopped 
again  as  various  difficulties  presented  themselves  for 
solution.  Finally,  despite  the  lateness  of  the  hour, 
he  walked  back  in  some  excitement  to  the  house  he 
had  quitted  over  half  an  hour  before  with  the  inten- 
tion of  speaking  to  the  invalid  concerning  a  duty 
peculiarly  incumbent  upon  elderly  men  of  means. 

The  nurse,  who  came  out  of  the  sick  room,  gently 
closing  the  door  after  her,  demurred  a  little  to  this 
second  visit,  but,  receiving  a  promise  from  the  visitor 
not  to  excite  the  invalid,  left  them  together.  The 
odour  of  the  abominable  physic  was  upon  the  air. 

"  Well  ?"  said  the  invalid. 

"  I  have  been  thinking  that  I  was  rather  uncivil 
a  little  while  ago,"  said  Hardy. 

"  Ah  !  "  said  the  other.     "  What  do  you  want  ?  " 

"  A  little  of  that  skilled  assistance  you  were  speak- 
ing of." 

Mr.  Swann  made  an  alarming  noise  in  his  throat. 
Hardy  sprang  forward  in  alarm,  but  he  motioned 
him  back. 

"  I  was  only  laughing,"  he  explained. 

Hardy  repressed  his  annoyance  by  an  effort,  and 
endeavoured,  but  with  scant  success,  to  return  the 
other's  smile. 

"  Go  on,"  said  the  shipbroker,  presently. 

"  I  have  thought  of  a  scheme  for  upsetting  Nu- 
264 


At  Sunwich  Port 

gent's  marriage,"  said  Hardy,  slowly.  "It  is  just 
a  fodorn  hope  which  depends  for  its  success  on  you 
and  Nathan  Smith." 

"  He's  a  friend  of  Kybird's,"  said  the  other,  drily. 

"  That  is  the  most  important  thing  of  all,"  re- 
joined Hardy.  "  That  is,  next  to  your  shrewdness 
and  tact ;  everything  depends  upon  you,  really,  and 
whether  you  can  fool  Smith.  It  is  a  great  thing  in 
our  favour  that  you  have  been  taking  him  up 
lately." 

"  Are  you  coming  to  the  point  or  are  you  not  ? " 
demanded  the  shipbroker. 

Hardy  looked  cautiously  round  the  room,  and 
then,  drawing  his  chair  close  to  the  bed,  leaned  over 
the  prostrate  man  and  spoke  rapidly  into  his  ear. 

"  What  ?  "  cried  the  astounded  Mr.  Swann,  sud- 
denly sitting  up  in  his  bed.  "You — you  scoun- 
drel ! " 

"  It's  to  be  done,"  said  Hardy. 

"  You  ghoul  1 "  said  the  invalid,  glaring  at  him. 
"Is  that  the  way  to  talk  to  a  sick  man  ?  You  un- 
scrupulous rascal !  " 

"It'll  be  amusement  for  you,"  pleaded  the  other, 
"  and  if  we  are  successful  it  will  be  the  best  thing  in 
the  end  for  everybody.  Think  of  the  good  you'll 
do." 

"  Where  you  get  such  rascally  ideas  from,  I  can't 
think,"   mused   the   invalid.      "Your   father   is  a 

«65 


At  Sunwich  Port 

straightforward,  honest  man,  and  your  partner's  up- 
rightness is  the  talk  of  Sunwich." 

"It  doesn't  take  much  to  make  Sunwich  talk," 
retorted  Hardy. 

"A  preposterous  suggestion  to  make  to  a  man 
of  my  standing,"  said  the  shipbroker,  ignoring  thw 
remark.  "  If  the  affair  ever  leaked  out  I  should 
never  hear  the  end  of  it." 

"  It  can't  leak  out,"  said  Hardy,  "  and  if  it  does 
there  is  no  direct  evidence.  They  will  never  really 
know  until  you  die ;  they  can  only  suspect." 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  shipbroker,  with  a  half- 
indulgent,  half-humorous  glance.  "  Anything  to 
get  rid  of  you.  It's  a  crack-brained  scheme,  and 
could  only  originate  with  a  young  man  whose  affec- 
tions have  weakened  his  head — I  consent." 

"Bravo!"  said  Hardy  and  patted  him  on  the 
back ;  Mr.  Swann  referred  to  the  base  of  his  left 
lung,  and  he  apologized. 

"  I'll  have  to  fix  it  up  with  Blaikie,'*  said  the  in- 
valid, lying  down  again.  "  Murchison  got  two  of 
his  best  patients  last  week,  so  that  it  ought  to  be 
easy.  And  besides,  he  is  fond  of  innocent  amuse- 
ment." 

"  I'm  awfully  obliged  to  you,"  said  Hardy. 

"  It  might  be  as  well  if  we  pretended  to  quarrel," 
said  the  invalid,  reflectively,  "  especially  as  you  are 
known  to  be  a  friend  of  Nugent's.     We'll  have  a 

266 


At  Sunwich  Port 

few  words — before  my  housekeeper  if  possible,  to 
insure  publicity — and  then  you  had  better  not  come 
again.     Send  Silk  instead  with  messages." 

Hardy  thanked  him  and  whispered  a  caution  as  a 
footstep  was  heard  on  the  landing.  The  door  opened 
and  the  nurse,  followed  by  the  housekeeper  bearing 
a  tray,  entered  the  room. 

"  And  I  can't  be  worried  about  these  things,"  said 
Swann,  in  an  acrimonious  voice,  as  they  entered. 
"If  you  are  not  capable  of  settling  a  simple  ques- 
tion like  that  yourself,  ask  the  office-boy  to  instruct 
you." 

"  It's  your  work,"  retorted  Hardy,  "  and  a  nice 
mess  it's  in." 

"  H'sh  !  "  said  the  nurse,  coming  forward  hastily. 
"  You  must  leave  the  room,  sir.  I  can't  have  you 
exciting  my  patient.'* 

Hardy  bestowed  an  indignant  glance  at  the  in- 
valid. 

"  Get  out ! "  said  that  gentleman,  with  extraor- 
dinary fierceness  for  one  in  his  weak  condition. 
"In  future,  nurse,  I  won't  have  this  person  admitted 
to  my  room." 

"Yes,  yes;  certainly,"  said  the  nurse.  "You 
must  go,  sir ;  at  once,  please." 

"  I'm  going,"  said  Hardy,  almost  losing  his  grav- 
ity at  the  piteous  spectacle  afforded  by  the  house- 
keeper as  she  stood,  still  holding  the  tray  and  star- 

267 


At  Sunwich  Port 

ing  open-mouthed  at  the  combatants.  "  When 
you're  tired  of  skulking  in  bed,  perhaps  you'll  come 
and  do  your  share  of  the  work." 


«»« Puppy  !•«!<!  the  inTiM 


Mr.  Swann  rose  to  a  sitting  position,  and  his  de- 
meanour was  so  alarming  that  the  nurse,  hastening 

268 


At  Sunwich  Port  ^ 

over  to  him,  entreated  him  to  lie  down,  and  waved 
Hardy  peremptorily  from  the  room. 

"  Puppy ! "  said  the  invalid,  with  great  relish, 
"  Blockhead  ! " 

He  gazed  fixedly  at  the  young  man  as  he  de- 
parted and  then,  catching  sight  in  his  turn  of  the 
housekeeper's  perplexity,  laid  himself  down  and 
buried  his  face  in  the  bed-clothes.  The  nurse 
crossed  over  to  her  assistant  and,  taking  the  tray 
from  her,  told  her  in  a  sharp  whisper  that  if  she 
ever  admitted  Mr.  Hardy  again  she  would  not  be 
answerable  for  the  consequences. 


ab» 


CHAPTER    XX 

CHARMED  at  the  ease  with  which  he  had 
demolished  the  objections  of  Mr.  Adolphus 
Swann  and  won  that  suffering  gentleman 
over  to  his  plans,  Hardy  began  to  cast  longing 
glances  at  Equator  Lodge.  He  reminded  himself 
that  the  labourer  was  worthy  of  his  hire,  and  it 
seemed  moreover  an  extremely  desirable  thing  that 
Captain  Nugent  should  know  that  he  was  labouring 
in  his  vineyard  with  the  full  expectation  of  a  boun- 
teous harvest.     He  resolved  to  call. 

Kate  Nugent,  who  heard  the  gate  swing  behind 
him  as  he  entered  the  front  garden,  looked  up  and 
•stood  spellbound  at  his  audacity.  As  a  fairly  coura- 
geous young  person  she  was  naturally  an  admirer  of 
boldness  in  others,  but  this  seemed  sheer  reckless- 
ness. Moreover,  it  was  recklessness  in  which,  if  she 
stayed  where  she  was,  she  would  have  to  bear  a  part 
or  be  guilty  of  rudeness,  of  which  she  felt  incapable. 
She  took  a  third  course,  and,  raising  her  eyebrows 
at  the  unnecessarily  loud  knocking  with  which  the 
young  man  announced  his  arrival,  retreated  in  good 
order  into  the  garden,  where  her  father,  in  a  some- 

2  TO 


At  Sunwich  Port 

what  heated  condition,  was  laboriously  planting 
geraniums.  She  had  barely  reached  him  when  Bella, 
in  a  state  of  fearsome  glee,  came  down  the  garden 
to  tell  the  captain  of  his  visitor. 


<*  Bella,  in  a  state  of  fearsome  glee,  came  down  the  garden  to  tell  the  captain  of 

his  visitor." 

871 


At   Sunwich  Port 

"  Who  ?  "  said  the  latter,  sharply,  as  he  straight- 
ened his  aching  back. 

"Young  Mr.  Hardy,"  said  Bella,  impressively. 
"  I  showed  'im  in  ;  I  didn't  ask  'im  to  take  a  chair, 
but  he  took  one." 

"  Young  Hardy  to  see  me  !  "  said  the  captain  to 
his  daughter,  after  Bella  had  returned  to  the  house. 
"How  dare  he  come  to  my  house?  Infernal  im- 
pudence !     I  won't  see  him." 

"  Shall  I  go  in  and  see  him  for  you  ?  "  inquired 
Kate,  with  affected  artlessness. 

"  You  stay  where  you  are,  miss,"  said  her  father. 
"  I  won't  have  him  speak  to  you  ;  I  won't  have  him 
look  at  you.     I'll " 

He  beat  his  dirty  hands  together  and  strode  off 
towards  the  house.  Jem  Hardy  rose  from  his  chair 
as  the  captain  entered  the  room  and,  ignoring  a  look 
of  black  inquiry,  bade  him  "  Good  afternoon," 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  asked  the  captain,  gruffly, 
as  he  stared  him  straight  in  the  eye. 

"  I  came  to  see  you  about  your  son's  marriage," 
said  the  other.  "  Are  you  still  desirous  of  prevent- 
ing it?" 

"  I'm  sorry  you've  had  the  trouble,"  said  the  cap- 
tain, in  a  voice  of  suppressed  anger  ;  "  and  now  may 
I  ask  you  to  get  out  of  my  house  ? " 

Hardy  bowed.  "  I  am  sorry  I  have  troubled 
you,"  he  said,  calmly,  "  but  I  have  a  plan  which  I 

272 


At  Sunwich  Port 

think  would  get  your  son  out  of  this  affair,  and,  as 
a  business  man,  1  wanted  to  make  something  out 
of  it." 

The  captain  eyed  him  scornfully,  but  he  was  glad 
to  see  this  well-looking,  successful  son  of  his  old 
enemy  tainted  with  such  sordid  views.  Instead  of 
turning  him  out  he  spoke  to  him  almost  fairly. 

"  How  much  do  you  want  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  All  things  considered,  I  am  asking  a  good  deal," 
was  the  reply. 

"  How  much  ?  "  repeated  the  captain,  impatiently. 

Hardy  hesitated.  "In  exchange  for  the  service  I 
want  permission  to  visit  here  when  I  choose,"  he 
said,  at  length  ;  "  say  twice  a  week." 

Words  failed  the  captain  ;  none  with  which  he  was 
acquainted  seemed  forcible  enough  for  the  occasion. 
He  faced  his  visitor  stuttering  with  rage,  and  pointed 
to  the  door. 

"  Get  out  of  my  house,"  he  roared. 

"  I'm  sorry  to  have  intruded,"  said  Hardy,  as  he 
crossed  the  room  and  paused  at  the  door ;  "  it  is 
none  of  my  business,  of  course.  I  thought  that  I 
saw  an  opportunity  of  doing  your  son  a  good  turn 
— he  is  a  friend  of  mine — and  at  the  same  time  pay- 
ing off  old  scores  against  Kybird  and  Nathan  Smith, 
I  thought  that  on  that  account  it  might  suit  you. 
Good  afternoon." 

He  walked  out  into  the  hall,  and  reaching  the 
«7S 


At  Sunwich  Port 

front  door  fumbled  clumsily  with  the  catch.     The 
captain  watching  his  efforts  in  grim  silence  began  to 


"  'Get  out  of  my  house,'  he  roared." 

experience  the  twin  promptings  of  curiosity  and 
temptation. 

"What  is  this  wonderful  plan  of  yours?  "  he  de- 
manded, with  a  sneer. 

"  Just  at  present  tKat  must  remain  a  secret,"  said 
274 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  other.     He  came  from  the  door  and,  unbidden, 
followed  the  captain  into  the  room  again. 

"  What  do  you  want  to  visit  at  my  house  for  ? " 
inquired  the  latter,  in  a  forbidding  voice. 

"  To  see  your  daughter,"  said  Hardy. 

The  captain  had  a  relapse.  He  had  not  expected 
a  truthful  answer,  and,  when  it  came,  in  the  most 
matter-of-fact  tone,  it  found  him  quite  unprepared. 
His  first  idea  was  to  sacrifice  his  dignity  and  forcibly 
eject  his  visitor,  but  more  sensible  thoughts  pre- 
vailed. 

"  You  are  quite  sure,  I  suppose,  that  your  visits 
would  be  agreeable  to  my  daughter?  "  he  said,  con- 
temptuously. 

Hardy  shook  his  head.  "  I  should  come  osten- 
sibly to  see  you,"  he  said,  cheerfully ;  "  to  smoke  a 
pipe  with  you." 

"  Smoke  !  "  stuttered  the  captain,  explosively ; 
"  smoke  a  pipe  with  me  ?  " 

"Why  not  ?"  said  the  other.  "I  am  offering 
you  my  services,  and  anything  that  is  worth  having 
is  worth  paying  for.  I  suppose  we  could  both 
smoke  pipes  under  pleasanter  conditions.  What 
have  you  got  against  me?  It  isn't  my  fault  that 
you  and  my  father  have  quarrelled." 

"  I  don't  want  anything  more  to  say  to  you,"  said 
the  captain,  sternly.  "  I've  shown  you  the  door 
once.     Am  I  to  take  forcible  measures  ?  " 

275 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Hardy  shrugged  his  broad  shoulders.  "  I  am 
sorry,"  he  said,  moving  to  the  door  again. 

"  So  am  I,"  said  the  other. 

"  It's  a  pity,"  said  Hardy,  regretfully.  "  It's  the 
chance  of  a  lifetime.  I  had  set  my  heart  on  fooling 
Kybird  and  Smith,  and  now  all  my  trouble  is  wasted. 
Nathan  Smith  would  be  all  the  better  for  a  fall." 

The  captain  hesitated.  His  visitor  seemed  to  be 
confident,  and  he  would  have  given  a  great  deal  to 
prevent  his  son's  marriage  and  a  great  deal  to  repay 
some  portion  of  his  debt  to  the  ingenious  Mr.  Smith. 
Moreover,  there  seemed  to  be  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity of  punishing  the  presumption  of  his  visitor  by 
taking  him  at  his  word. 

"  I  don't  think  you'd  enjoy  your  smoking  here 
much,"  he  said,  curtly. 

"  I'll  take  my  chance  of  that,"  said  the  other. 
"  It  will  only  be  a  matter  of  a  few  weeks,  and  then, 
if  I  am  unsuccessful,  my  visits  cease." 

"  And  if  you're  successful,  am  I  to  have  the  pleas- 
ure of  your  company  for  the  rest  of  my  life  ?  "  de- 
manded the  captain. 

"  That  will  be  for  you  to  decide,"  was  the  reply, 
"  Is  it  a  bargain  ?  " 

The  captain  looked  at  him  and  deliberated.  "  All 
right.  Mondays  and  Thursdays,"  he  said,  laconi- 
cally. 

Hardy  saw  through  the  ruse,  and  countered. 
276 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  Now  Swann  is  ill  I  can't  always  get  away  when  I 
wish,"  he  said,  easily.  "  I'll  just  drop  in  when  I 
can.     Good  day." 

He  opened  the  door  and,  fearful  lest  the  other 
should  alter  his  mind  at  the  last  moment,  walked 
briskly  down  the  path  to  the  gate.  The  captain 
stood  for  some  time  after  his  departure  deep  in 
thought,  and  then  returned  to  the  garden  to  be  skil- 
fully catechized  by  Miss  Nugent. 

"And  when  my  young  friend  comes  with  his 
pipe  you'll  be  in  another  room,"  he  concluded, 
warningly. 

Miss  Nugent  looked  up  and  patted  his  cheek 
tenderly.  "  What  a  talent  for  organization  you 
have,"  she  remarked,  softly.  "  A  place  for  every- 
thing and  everything  in  its  place.  The  idea  of  his 
taking  such  a  fancy  to  you  !  " 

The  captain  coughed  and  eyed  her  suspiciously. 
He  had  been  careful  not  to  tell  her  Hardy's  reasons 
for  coming,  but  he  had  a  shrewd  idea  that  his  cau- 
tion was  wasted. 

"To-day  is  Thursday,"  said  Kate,  slowly  ;  "he 
will  be  here  to-morrow  and  Saturday.  What  shall 
I  wear  ?  " 

The  captain  resumed  his  gardening  operations  by 
no  means  perturbed  at  the  prophecy.  Much  as  he 
disliked  the  young  man  he  gave  him  credit  for  a 
certain  amount  of  decency,  and  his  indignation  was 

877 


At  Sunwich  Port 

proportionately  great  the  following  evening  when 
Bella  announced  Mr.  Hardy.  He  made  a  genial 
remark  about  Shylock  and  a  pound  of  flesh,  but  find- 
ing that  it  was  only  an  excellent  conversational  open- 
ing, the  subject  of  Shakespeare's  plays  lapsed  into 
silence* 

It  was  an  absurd  situation,  but  he  was  host  and 
Hardy  allowed  him  to  see  pretty  plainly  that  he  was 
a  guest.  He  answered  the  latter's  remarks  with  a 
very  ill  grace,  and  took  covert  stock  of  him  as  one 
of  a  species  he  had  not  encountered  before.  One 
result  of  his  stock-taking  was  that  he  was  spared  any 
feeling  of  surprise  when  his  visitor  came  the  follow- 
ing evening. 

"  It's  the  thin  end  of  the  wedge,"  said  Miss  Nu- 
gent, who  came  into  the  room  after  Hardy  had  de- 
parted ;  "  you  don't  know  him  as  well  as  I  do." 

"  Eh  ?  "  said  her  father,  sharply. 

"  I  mean  that  you  are  not  such  a  judge  of  charac- 
ter as  I  am,"  said  Kate  ;  "  and  besides,  I  have  made 
a  special  study  of  young  men.  The  only  thing  that 
puzzles  me  is  why  you  should  have  such  an  extra- 
ordinary fascination  for  him." 

"  You  talk  too  much,  miss,"  said  the  captain, 
drawing  the  tobacco-jar  towards  him  and  slowly  fill- 
ing his  pipe. 

Miss  Nugent  sighed,  and  after  striking  a  match 
for  him  took  a  seat  on   the  arm  of  his  chair  and 

278 


At  Sunwich  Port 

placed  her  hand  on  his  shoulder.  "  I  can  quite  un- 
derstand him  liking  you,"  she  said,  slowly. 

The  captain  grunted. 

"  And  if  he  is  like  other  sensible  people,"  contin- 
ued Miss  Nugent,  in  a  coaxing  voice,  "  the  more 
he  sees  of  you  the  more  he'll  like  you.  I  do  hope 
he  has  not  come  to  take  you  away  from  me." 

The  indignant  captain  edged  her  off  the  side  of 
his  chair ;  Miss  Nugent,  quite  undisturbed,  got  on 
again  and  sat  tapping  the  floor  with  her  foot.  Her 
arm  stole  round  his  neck  and  she  laid  her  cheek 
against  his  head  and  smiled  wickedly. 

"  Nice-looking,  isn't  he  ?  "  she  said,  in  a  careless 
voice. 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  his  looks,"  growled 
her  father. 

Miss  Nugent  gave  a  little  exclamation  of  surprise. 
**  First  thing  I  noticed,"  she  said,  with  commendable 
gravity.  "  He's  very  good-looking  and  very  deter- 
mined. What  are  you  going  to  give  him  if  he  gets 
poor  Jack  out  of  this  miserable  business  ?  " 

"  Give  him  ?  "  said  her  father,  staring. 

"  I  met  Jack  yesterday,"  said  Kate,  "  and  I  can 
see  that  he  is  as  wretched  as  he  can  be.  He  wouldn't 
say  so,  of  course.  If  Mr.  Hardy  is  successful  you 
ought  to  recognize  it.  I  should  suggest  one  of  your 
new  photos,  in  an  eighteenpenny  frame." 

She  slipped  off  the  chair  and  quitted  the  room 
279 


At  Sunwich  Port 

before  her  father  could  think  of  a  suitable  retort,  and 
he  sat  smoking  silently  until  the  entrance  of  Mrs 
Kingdom  a  few  minutes  later  gave  him  an  opportu- 
nity of  working  off  a  little  accumulated  gall. 

While  the  junior  partner  was  thus  trying  to  ob- 


••  I  do  hope  he  has  not  come  to  take  you  away  from  me. 
280 


At  Sunwich  Port 

tain  a  footing  at  Equator  Lodge  the  gravest  rumours 
of  the  senior  partner's  health  were  prevalent  in  the. 
town.  Nathan  Smith,  who  had  been  to  see  him 
again,  ostensibly  to  thank  him  for  his  efforts  on  his 
behalf,  was  of  opinion  that  he  was  breaking  up,  and 
in  conversation  with  Mr.  Kybird  shook  his  head 
over  the  idea  that  there  would  soon  be  one  open- 
handed  gentleman  the  less  in  a  world  which  was 
none  too  full  of  them. 

"  We've  all  got  to  go  some  day,"  observed  Mr. 
Kybird,  philosophically.  "  'Ow's  that  cough  o* 
yours  getting  on,  Nat  ?  " 

Mr.  Smith  met  the  pleasantry  coldly  ;  the  ail- 
ment referred  to  was  one  of  some  standing  and  had 
been  a  continual  source  of  expense  in  the  way  of 
balsams  and  other  remedies. 

"  He's  worried  about  'is  money,"  he  said,  refer- 
ring to  Mr.  Swann. 

"  Ah,  we  sha'n't  'ave  that  worry,"  said  Mr.  Ky- 
bird. 

"  Nobody  to  leave  it  to,"  continued  Mr.  Smith. 
"  Seems  a  bit  'ard,  don't  it  ?  " 

"  P'r'aps  if  *e  'ad  *ad  somebody  to  leave  it  to  *e 
wouldn't  'ave  'ad  so  much  to  leave,"  observed  Mr. 
Kybird,  sagely  ;  "  it's  a  rum  world." 

He  shook  his  head  over  it  and  went  on  with  the 
uncongenial  task  of  marking  down  wares  which  had 
suffered  by  being  exposed  outside  too  long.     Mr, 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Smith,  who  always  took  an  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  his  friends,  made  suggestions. 

"  I  shouldn't  put  a  ticket  marked  *  Look  at  this  !  * 
on  that  coat,"  he  said,  severely.  "  It  oughtn't  to 
be  looked  at." 

"  It's  the  best  out  o'  three  all  'anging  together," 
said  Mr.  Kybird,  evenly. 

"  And  look  'ere,"  said  Mr.  Smith.  "  Look  what 
an  out-o'-the-way  place  you've  put  this  ticket.  Why 
not  put  it  higher  up  on  the  coat  ?  " 

"  Becos  the  moth-hole  ain't  there,"  said  Mr. 
Kybird. 

Mr.  Smith  apologized  and  watched  his  friend 
without  further  criticism. 

"  Gettin'  ready  for  the  wedding,  I  s'pose  ? "  he 
said,  presently. 

Mr.  Kybird  assented,  and  his  brow  darkened  as 
he  spoke  of  surreptitious  raids  on  his  stores  made 
by  Mrs.  Kybird  and  daughter. 

"  Their  idea  of  a  wedding,"  he  said,  bitterly,  "  is 
to  dress  up  and  make  a  show ;  my  idea  is  a  few  real 
good  old  pals  and  plenty  of  licker." 

"You'll  'ave  to  *ave  both,"  observed  Nathan 
Smith,  whose  knowledge  of  the  sex  was  pretty  ac- 
curate. 

Mr.  Kybird  nodded  gloomily.  "  'Melia  and  Jack 
don't  seem  to  'ave  been  'itting  it  off  partikler  well 
lately,"  he  said,  slowly.     "  He's  getting  more  up- 

882 


At  Sunwich  Port 


*•  Are  you  goin*  to  send  Cap'n  Nugent  an  invite  for  the  wedding  ?  " 

pish  than  wot  *e  was  when  'e  come  here  first.  But 
I  got  'im  to  promise  that  he'd  settle  any  money 
that  'e  might  ever  get  left  him  on  'Melia." 

Mr.  Smith's  inscrutable  eyes  glistened  into  some- 
thing as  nearly  approaching  a  twinkle  as  they  were 

203 


At  Sunwich  Port 

capable.  "That'll  settle  the  five  'undred,"  he  said, 
warmly.  "Are  you  goin*  to  send  Cap'n  Nugent 
an  invite  for  the  wedding?  " 

"They'll  'ave  to  be  asked,  o'  course,"  said  Mr. 
Kybird,  with  an  attempt  at  dignity,  rendered  neces- 
sary by  a  certain  lightness  in  his  friend's  manner. 
"  The  old  woman  don't  like  the  Nugent  lot,  but 
she'll  do  the  proper  thing." 

"O'  course  she  will,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  soothingly. 
"Come  over  and  *ave  a  drink  with  me,  Dan'l ; 
it's  your  turn  to  stand." 


•a* 


CHAPTER    XXI 

GOSSIP  from  one  or  two  quartern,  which 
reached  Captain  Nugent's  ears  through  the 
medium  of  his  sister,  concerning  the  prep- 
arations for  his  son's  marriage,  prevented  him  from 
altering  his  mind  with  regard  to  the  visits  of  Jem 
Hardy  and  showing  that  painstaking  young  man 
the  door.  Indeed,  the  nearness  of  the  approaching 
nuptials  bade  fair  to  eclipse,  for  the  time  being,  all 
other  grievances,  and  when  Hardy  paid  his  third  visit 
he  made  a  determined  but  ineffectual  attempt  to  ob- 
tain from  him  some  information  as  to  the  methods 
by  which  he  hoped  to  attain  his  ends.  His  failure 
made  him  suspicious,  and  he  hinted  pretty  plainly 
that  he  had  no  guarantee  that  his  visitor  was  not  ob- 
taining admittance  under  false  pretences. 

"  Well,  I'm  not  getting  much  out  of  it,"  returned 
Hardy,  frankly. 

"  I  wonder  you  come,"  said  his  hospitable  host. 

"  I  want  you  to  get  used  to  me,"  said  the  other. 

The  captain  started  and  eyed  him  uneasily ;  the 
remark  seemed  fraught  with  hidden  meaning.  "  And 
then    ■■     ? "  he  inquired,  raising  his  bushy  eyebrows. 

285 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Then  perhaps  I  can  come  oftener.** 

The  captain  gave  him  up.  He  sank  back  in  his 
chair  and  crossing  his  legs  smoked,  with  his  eyes 
fixed  on  the  ceiling.  It  was  difficult  to  know  what 
to  do  with  a  young  man  who  was  apparently  desti- 
tute of  any  feelings  of  shame  or  embarrassment.  He 
bestowed  a  puzzled  glance  in  his  direction  and  saw 
that  he  was  lolling  in  the  chair  with  an  appearance 
of  the  greatest  ease  and  enjoyment.  Following  the 
direction  of  his  eyes,  he  saw  that  he  was  gazing  with 
much  satisfaction  at  a  photograph  of  Miss  Nugent 
which  graced  the  mantelpiece.  With  an  odd  sen- 
sation the  captain  suddenly  identified  it  as  one  which 
usually  stood  on  the  chest  of  drawers  in  his  bed- 
room, and  he  wondered  darkly  whether  charity  or 
mischief  was  responsible  for  its  appearance  there. 

In  any  case,  it  disappeared  before  the  occasion  of 
Hardy's  next  visit,  and  the  visitor  sat  with  his  eyes 
unoccupied,  endeavouring  to  make  conversation  with 
a  host  who  was  if  anything  more  discourteous  than 
usual.  It  was  uphill  work,  but  he  persevered,  and 
in  fifteen  minutes  had  ranged  unchecked  from  North 
Pole  explorations  to  poultry  farming.  It  was  a 
relief  to  both  of  them  when  the  door  opened  and 
Bella  ushered  in  Dr.  Murchison. 

The  captain  received  the  new  arrival  with  marked 
cordiality,  and  giving  him  a  chair  near  his  own  ob- 
served with  some  interest  the  curt  greeting  of  the 

286 


ALFRED  SANTELl  .   , 

At  Sunwich  Port 

young  men.  The  doctor's  manner  indicateci  polite 
surprise  at  seeing  the  other  there,  then  he  turned  to 
the  captain  and  began  to  talk  to  him. 

For  some  time  they  chatted  without  interruption, 
and  the  captain's  replies,  when  Hardy  at  last  made 
an  attempt  to  make  the  conversation  general,  en- 
abled the  doctor  to  see,  without  much  difficulty, 
that  the  latter  was  an  unwelcome  guest.  Charmed 
with  the  discovery  he  followed  his  host's  lead,  and, 
with  a  languid  air,  replied  to  his  rival  in  monosyl- 
lables. The  captain  watched  with  quiet  satisfaction, 
and  at  each  rebuff  his  opinion  of  Murchison  im- 
proved. It  was  gratifying  to  find  that  the  inter- 
loper had  met  his  match. 

Hardy  sat  patient.  "  I  am  glad  to  have  met  you 
to-night,"  he  said,  after  a  long  pause,  during  which 
the  other  two  were  discussing  a  former  surgical  ex- 
perience of  the  captain's  on  one  of  his  crew. 

"  Yes  ?  "  said  Murchison. 

"  You  are  just  the  man  I  wanted  to  see." 

"  Yes  ?  "  said  the  doctor,  again. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  other,  nodding.  "  I've  been  very 
busy  of  late  owing  to  my  partner's  illness,  and  you 
are  attending  several  people  I  want  to  hear  about." 

"  Indeed,"  said  Murchison,  with  a  half-turn 
towards  him. 

"  How  is  Mrs.  Paul  ?  "  inquired  Hardy. 

"  Dead  !  "  replied  the  other,  briefly. 
287 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Dead  !  "  repeated  Mr.  Hardy.  "  Good  Heav- 
ens !  I  didn't  know  that  there  was  much  the  matter 
with  her." 

"  There  was  no  hope  for  her  from  the  first,"  said 
Murchison,  somewhat  sharply.  "It  was  merely  a 
question  of  prolonging  her  life  a  little  while.  She 
lived  longer  than  I  deemed  possible.  She  surprised 
everybody  by  her  vitality." 

"  Poor  thing,"  said  Hardy.  "  How  is  Joe 
Banks  ? " 

"  Dead,"  said  Murchison  again,  biting  his  lip  and 
eyeing  him  furiously. 

"  Dear  me,"  said  Hardy,  shaking  his  head ;  "  1 
met  him  not  a  month  ago.  He  was  on  his  way  to 
see  you  then." 

"  The  poor  fellow  had  been  an  invalid  nearly  all 
his  life,"  said  Murchison,  to  the  captain,  casually. 

"Aye,  I  remember  him,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  am  almost  afraid  to  ask  you,"  continued  Hardy, 
"  but  shut  up  all  day  I  hear  so  little.  How  is  old 
Miss  Ritherdon  ?  " 

Murchison  reddened  with  helpless  rage  ;  Captain 
Nugent,  gazing  at  the  questioner  with  something 
almost  approaching  respect,  waited  breathlessly  for 
the  invariable  answer. 

"  She  died  three  weeks  ago  ;  I'm  surprised  that 
you  have  not  heard  of  it,"  said  the  doctor,  point- 
edly. 

288 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Of  course  she  was  old,"  said  Hardy,  with  the 
air  of  one  advancing  extenuating  circumstances. 

"  Very  old,"  replied  the  doctor,  who  knew  that 
the  other  was  now  at  the  end  of  his  obituary  list. 


"  Are  there  any  other  of  my  patients  you  are  anxious  to  hear  about  ?" 


"  Are  there  any  other  of  my  patients  you  are 
anxious  to  hear  about  ?  " 

"  No,  thank  you,"  returned  Hardy,  with  some 
haste. 

The  doctor  turned  to  his  host  again,  but  the  charm 
289 


At  Sunwich  Port 

was  broken.  His  talk  was  disconnected,  owing  prob- 
ably to  the  fact  that  he  was  racking  his  brain  for 
facts  relative  to  the  seamy  side  of  shipbroking. 
And  Hardy,  without  any  encouragement  whatever, 
was  interrupting  with  puerile  anecdotes  concerning 
the  late  lamented  Joe  Banks.  The  captain  came  to 
the  rescue. 

"  The  ladies  are  in  the  garden,"  he  said  to  the 
doctor  ;  "  perhaps  you'd  like  to  join  them." 

He  looked  coldly  over  at  Hardy  as  he  spoke  to 
see  the  effect  of  his  words.  Their  eyes  met,  and  the 
young  man  was  on  his  feet  as  soon  as  his  rival. 

*'  Thanks,"  he  said,  coolly ;  "  it  is  a  trifle  close 
indoors." 

Before  the  dismayed  captain  could  think  of  any 
dignified  pretext  to  stay  him  he  was  out  of  the  room. 
The  doctor  followed  and  the  perturbed  captain,  left 
alone,  stared  blankly  at  the  door  antl  thought  of  his 
daughter's  words  concerning  the  tnin  end  of  the 
wedge. 

He  was  a  proud  man  and  loth  to  show  discom- 
fiture, so  that  it  was  not  until  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
later  that  he  followed  his  guests  to  the  garden. 
The  four  people  were  in  couples,  the  paths  favour- 
ing that  formation,  although  the  doctor,  to  the  det- 
riment of  the  border,  had  made  two  or  three  deter- 
mined attempts  to  march  in  fours.  With  a  feeling 
akin  to  scorn  the  captain  saw  that  he  was  walking 

290 


At  Sunwich  Port 

with  Mrs.  Kingdom,  while  some  distance  in  the 
rear  Jem  Hardy  followed  with  Kate. 

He  stood  at  the  back  door  for  a  little  while  watch- 
ing ;  Hardy,  upright  and  elate,  was  listening  with 
profound  attention  to  Miss  Nugent ;  the  doctor, 
sauntering  along  beside  Mrs.  Kingdom,  was  listen- 
ing with  a  languid  air  to  an  account  of  her  celebrated 
escape  from  measles  some  forty-three  years  before. 
As  a  professional  man  he  would  have  died  rather 
than  have  owed  his  life  to  the  specific  she  advocated. 

Kate  Nugent,  catching  sight  of  her  father,  turned, 
and  as  he  came  slowly  towards  them,  linked  her  arm, 
in  his.  Her  face  was  slightly  flushed  and  her  eyes 
sparkled. 

"  I  was  just  coming  in  to  fetch  you,"  she  ob- 
served ;  "  it  is  so  pleasant  out  here  now." 

"  Delightful,"  said  Hardy. 

"  We  had  to  drop  behind  a  little,"  said  Miss  Nu- 
gent, raising  her  voice.  "  Aunt  and  Dr.  Murohison 
will  talk  about  their  complaints  to  each  other! 
They  have  been  exchanging  prescriptions." 

The  captain  grunted  and  eyed  her  keenly. 

"  I  want  you  to  come  in  and  give  us  a  little 
music,"  he  said,  shortly. 

Kate  nodded.  "What  is  your  favourite  music, 
Mr.  Hardy  ?  "  she  inquired,  with  a  smile. 

"  Unfortunately,  Mr.  Hardy  can't  stay,"  said  the 
captain,  in  a  voice  which  there  was  no  mistaking. 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Hardy  pulled  out  his  watch.  "  No ;  I  must  be 
ofFj"  he  said,  with  a  well-affected  start.  "  Thank 
you  for  reminding  me,  Captain  Nugent." 

**  I  am  glad  to  have  been  of  service,"  said  the 
other,  looking  his  grimmest. 

He  acknowledged  the  young  man's  farewell  with 
a  short  nod  and,  forgetting  his  sudden  desire  for 
music,  continued  to  pace  up  and  down  with  his 
daughter. 

"  What  have  you  been  saying  to  that — that  fel- 
low ? "  he  demanded,  turning  to  her,  suddenly. 

Miss  Nugent  reflected.  "  1  said  it  was  a  fine 
evening,"  she  replied,  at  last. 

"  No  doubt,"  said  her  father.     "  What  else  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  asked  him  whether  he  was  fond  of 
gardening,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  slowly.  "Yes,  I'm 
sure  I  did.'* 

"You  had  no  business  to  speak  to  him  at  all," 
said  the  fuming  captain. 

"  I  don't  quite  see  how  1  could  help  doing  so," 
said  his  daughter.  "  You  surely  don't  expect  me  to 
be  rude  to  your  visitors?  Besides,  I  feel  rather 
sorry  for  him." 

"  Sorry  ?  "  repeated  the  captain,  sharply.  "  What 
fori" 

"  Because  he  hasn't  got  a  nice,  kind,  soft-spoken 
father,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  squeezing  his  arm  affec- 
tionately. 

292 


At  Sunwich  Port 

The  appearance  of  the  other  fouple  at  the  head 
of  the  path  saved  the  captain  the  n^^essity  of  ^ 
retort.  They  stood  in  a  little  knot  talking,  but 
Miss  Nugent,  contrary  to  her  usual  habit,  said  but 
little.  She  was.  holding  her  father's  arm  and  gazing 
absently  at  the  dim  fields  stretching  away  beyond 
the  garden. 

At  the  same  time  Mr.  James  Hardy,  feeling,  de- 
spite his  bold  front,  somewhat  badly  snubbed,  was 
sitting  on  the  beach  thinking  over  the  situation. 
After  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in  the  company  of  Kate 
Nugent  all  else  seemed  sordid  and  prosaic ;  his  own 
conduct  in  his  attempt  to  save  her  brother  from  the 
consequences  of  his  folly  most  sordid  of  all.  He 
wondered,  gloomily,  what  she  would  think  when  she 
heard  of  it. 

He  rose  at  last  and  in  the  pale  light  of  the  new 
moon  walked  slowly  along  towards  the  town.  In 
his  present  state  of  mind  he  wanted  to  talk  about 
Kate  Nugent,  and  the  only  person  who  could  be 
depended  upon  for  doing  that  was  Samson  Wilks, 
It  was  a  never-tiring  subject  of  the  steward's,  and 
since  his  discovery  of  the  state  of  Hardy's  feelings 
in  that  quarter  the  slightest  allusion  was  sufficient  to 
let  loose  a  flood  of  reminiscences. 

It  was  dark  by  the  time  Hardy  reached  the  alley, 
and  in  most  of  the  houses  the  lamps  were  lit  behind 
drawn  blinds.     The  steward's  house,  however,  was 


At  Sunwich  Port 

m  darkness   and  there  was  no  response  when  he 
tapped.     He  turned  the  handle   of  the  door  and 


**He  wondered,  gloomily,  what  she  would  think  when  she  heard  of  it." 

looked  in.     A  dim  figure  rose  with  a  start  from  a 
chair. 

"  I  hope  you  were  not  asleep  ?  "  said  Hardy. 
294 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  No,  sir,"  said  the  steward,  in  a  relieved  voice. 
"  I  thought  it  was  somebody  else." 

He  placed  a  chair  for  his  visitor  and,  having  lit 
the  lamp,  slowly  lowered  the  blind  and  took  a  seat 
opposite. 

"  I've  been  sitting  in  the  dark  to  make  a  certain 
party  think  I  was  out,"  he  said,  slowly.  "  She 
keeps  making  a  excuse  about  Teddy  to  come  over 
and  see  me.  Last  night  'e  talked  about  making  a 
'ole  in  the  water  to  celebrate  'Melia  Kybird's  wed- 
ding, and  she  came  over  and  sat  in  that  chair  and 
cried  as  if  'er  'art  would  break.  After  she'd  gone 
Teddy  comes  over,  fierce  as  a  eagle,  and  wants  to 
know  wot  I've  been  saying  to  'is  mother  to  make 
'er  cry.  Between  the  two  of  'em  I  'ave  a  nice  life 
of  it." 

"  He  is  still  faithful  to  Miss  Kybird,  then  ? "  said 
Hardy,  with  a  sudden  sense  of  relief. 

"  Faithful  ?  "  said  Mr.  Wilks.  "  Faithfiil  ain't 
no  word  for  it.  He's  a  sticker,  that's  wot  'e  is,  and 
it's  my  misfortune  that  'is  mother  takes  after  'im. 
I  'ave  to  go  out  afore  breakfast  and  stay  out  till  late 
at  night,  and  even  then  like  as  not  she  catches  me 
on  the  doorstep." 

"  Well,  perhaps  she  will  make  a  hole  in  the  water," 
suggested  Hardy. 

Mr.  Wilks  smiled,  but  almost  instantly  became 
grave  again.     "  She's  not  that  sort,"  he  said,  bit- 

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At  Sunwich  Port 

tcrly,  and  went  into  the  kitchen  to  draw  some 
beer. 

He  drank  his  in  a  manner  which  betokened  that 
the  occupation  afforded  him  no  enjoyment,  and, 
full  of  his  own  troubles,  was  in  no  mood  to  discuss 
anything  else.  He  gave  a  short  biography  of  Mrs. 
Slk  which  would  have  furnished  abundant  material 
for  half-a-dozen  libel  actions,  and  alluding  to  the 
demise  of  the  late  Mr.  Silk,  spoke  of  it  as  though 
it  were  the  supreme  act  of  artfulness  in  a  somewhat 
adventurous  career. 

Hardy  walked  home  with  a  mind  more  at  ease 
than  it  had  been  at  any  time  since  his  overtures  to 
Mr.  Swann.  The  only  scruple  that  had  troubled  him 
was  now  removed,  and  in  place  of  it  he  felt  that  he 
v/as  acting  the  part  of  a  guardian  angel  to  Mr. 
£dward  Silk. 


396 


CHAPTER    XXII 

MR.  NATHAN  SMITH,  usually  one  of 
the  most  matter-of-fact  men  in  the  world, 
came  out  of  Mr.  Swann's  house  in  a  semi- 
dazed  condition,  and  for  some  time  after  the  front 
door  had  closed  behind  him  stood  gaping  on  the  nar- 
row pavement. 

He  looked  up  and  down  the  quiet  little  street  and 
shook  his  head  sadly.  It  was  a  street  of  staid  and 
substantial  old  houses ;  houses  which  had  mellowed 
and  blackened  with  age,  but  whose  quaint  windows 
and  chance-opened  doors  afforded  glimpses  of  com- 
fort attesting  to  the  prosperity  of  those  within.  In 
the  usual  way  Mr.  Nathan  Smith  was  of  too  philo- 
sophical a  temperament  to  experience  the  pangs  of 
envy,  but  to-day  these  things  affected  him,  and  he 
experienced  a  strange  feeling  of  discontent  with  his 
lot  in  life. 

"  Some  people  'ave  all  the  luck,"  he  muttered, 
and  walked  slowly  down  the  road. 

He  continued  his  reflections  as  he  walked  through 
the  somewhat  squalid  streets  of  his  own  quarter. 
The  afternoon  was  wet  and  the  houses  looked  din- 

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At  Sunwich  Port 

gier  than  usual ;  dirty,  inconvenient  little  places  most 
of  them,  with  a  few  cheap  gimcracks  making  a  brave 


**  '  Some  people  'ave  all  the  luck,'  he  muttered." 


show  as  near  the  window  as  possible.     Mr.  Smith 
observed  them  with  newly  opened  eyes,  and,  for  per- 

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At  Sunwich  Port 

haps  the  first  time  in  his  life,  thought  of  the  draw- 
backs and  struggles  of  the  poor. 

In  his  own  untidy  little  den  at  the  back  of  the 
house  he  sat  for  some  time  deep  in  thought  over  the 
events  of  the  afternoon.  He  had  been  permitted  a 
peep  at  wealth  ;  at  wealth,  too,  which  was  changing 
hands,  but  was  not  coming  his  way.  He  lit  his  pipe 
and,  producing  a  bottle  of  rum  from  a  cupboard, 
helped  himself  liberally.  The  potent  fluid  softened 
him  somewhat,  and  a  half-formed  intention  to  keep 
the  news  from  Mr.  -Kybird  melted  away  beneath  its 
benign  influence. 

"  After  all,  we've  been  pals  for  pretty  near  thirty 
years,"  said  Mr.  Smith  to  himself. 

He  took  another  draught.  "  Thirty  years  is  a 
long  time,"  he  mused. 

He  finished  the  glass.  "And  if  'e  don't  give 
me  something  out  of  if  I'll  do  'im  as  much  'arm  as 
I  can,"  he  continued ;  and,  buttoning  up  his  coat, 
he  rose  and  set  out  in  the  direction  of  the  High 
Street. 

The  rain  had  ceased  and  the  sun  was  making  faint 
efforts  to  break  through  watery  clouds.  Things 
seemed  brighter,  and  Mr.  Smith's  heart  beat  in  re- 
sponse. He  was  going  to  play  the  part  of  a  bene- 
factor to  Mr.  Kybird;  to  offer  him  access,  at  any  rate, 
to  such  wealth  as  he  had  never  dreamed  of.  He 
paused  at  the  shop  window,  and,  observing  through 

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At  Sunwich  Port 

a  gap  in  the  merchandise  that  Mr.  Kybird  was  be- 
hind the  counter,  walked  in  and  saluted  him. 

"  I've  got  news  for  you,"  he  said,  slowly ;  "  big 
news." 

"  Oh,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  with  indifference. 

"Big  news,"  repeated  Mr.  Smith,  sinking  thought* 
lessly  into  the  broken  cane-chair  and  slowly  extricat-^ 
ing  himself.  "  Something  that'll  make  your  eyes 
start  out  of  your  *ed." 

The  small  black  eyes  in  question  were  turned 
shrewdly  in  his  direction.  "  I've  'ad  news  of  you 
afore,  Nat,"  remarked  Mr.  Kybird,  with  simple 
severity. 

The  philanthropist  was  chilled ;  he  fixed  his  eyes 
fn  a  stony  stat-e  on  the  opposite  wall.  Mr.  Kybird, 
who  had  ever  a  wholesome  dread  of  falling  a  victim 
to  his  friend's  cuteness,  regarded  him  with  some 
uncertainty,  and  reminded  him  of  one  or  two  pieces 
of  information  which  had  seriously  depleted  his  till. 

"  Banns  up  yet  for  the  wedding?  "  inquired  Mr. 
Smith,  still  gazing  in  front  of  him  with  fathomless 
eyes. 

"They'll  be  put  up  next  week,"  said  Mr.  Ky- 
bird. 

"Ah!"  said  his  friend,  with  great  emphasis. 
"Well,  well!" 

"  Wot  d'ye  mean  by  *  well,  well '  ?  "  demanded 
the  other,  with  some  heat. 

300 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  I  was  on'y  thinking,"  replied  Mr.  Smith,  mildly. 
"  P'r'aps  it's  all  for  the  best,  and  I'd  better  'old  my 
tongue.  True  love  is  better  than  money.  After  all 
it  ain't  my  bisness,  and  I  shouldn't  get  much  out 
of  it." 

"  Out  of  wot,  Nat?  "  inquired  Mr.  Kybird,  un- 
easily. 

Mr.  Smith,  still  gazing  musingly  before  him,  ap- 
peared not  to  hear  the  question.  "  Nice  after  the 
rain,  ain't  it  ?  "  he  said,  slowly. 

"  It's  all  right,"  said  the  other,  shortly. 

"  Everything  smells  so  fresh  and  sweet,"  contin- 
ued his  nature-loving  friend ;  "  all  the  little  dickey- 
birds  was  a-singing  as  if  their  little  'arts  would  break 
as  1  come  along." 

"  I  don't  wonder  at  it,"  said  the  offended  Mr. 
Kybird. 

"  And  the  banns  go  up  next  week,"  mur- 
mured the  boarding-master  to  himself.  "  Well, 
well." 

"'Ave  you  got  anything  to  say  agin  it?"  de- 
manded Mr.  Kybird. 

"  Cert'nly  not,"  replied  the  other.  "  On'y  don't 
blame  me  when  it's  too  late ;  that's  all." 

Mr.  Kybird,  staring  at  him  wrathfully,  turned 
this  dark  saying  over  in  his  mind.  "  Too  late  for 
wot?  "   he  inquired. 

"  Ah  I  "  said  Nathan  Smith,  slowly.     "  Nice  and 
301 


At  Sunwich  Port 

fresh  after  the  rain,  ain't  it  ?     As  I  come  along  all 
the  little  dickey-birds " 


*•  If  you've  got  anything  to  say,  why  don't  you  say  it  like  a  man  ? " 

"  Drat  the  little  dickey -birds,"  interrupted  Mr. 
Kybird,  with  sudden  violence.  "  If  you've  got 
anything  to  say,  why  don't  you  say  it  like  a  man  ?  " 

302 


At  Sunwich  Port 

The  parlour  door  opened  suddenly  before  the 
other  could  reply,  and  revealed  the  face  of  Mrs.  Ky- 
blrd.  "  Wot  are  you  two  a-quarrelling  about  ?  "  she 
demanded.  "  Why  don't  you  come  inside  and  sit 
down  for  a  bit  ?  " 

Mr.  Smith  accepted  the  invitation,  and  following 
her  into  the  room  found  Miss  Kybird  busy  stitch- 
ing in  the  midst  of  a  bewildering  assortment  of 
brown  paper  patterns  and  pieces  of  cloth.  Mrs. 
Kybird  gave  him  a  chair,  and,  having  overheard  a 
portion  of  his  conversation  with  her  husband,  made 
one  or  two  casual  inquiries. 

"  I've  been  spending  a  hour  or  two  at  Mr. 
Swann's,"  said  Mr.  Smith. 

"  And  'ow  is  'e  ?  "  inquired  his  hostess,  with  an 
appearance  of  amiable  interest. 

The  boarding-master  shook  his  head.  "  'E's 
slipping  'is  cable,"  he  said,  slowly.  "  'E's  been 
making  'is  will,  and  I  was  one  o'  the  witnesses." 

Something  in  Mr.  Smith's  manner  as  he  uttered 
this  simple  statement  made  his  listeners  anxious  to 
hear  more.  Mr.  Kybird,  who  had  just  entered 
the  room  and  was  standing  with  his  back  to  the 
door  holding  the  handle,  regarded  him  expect- 
antly. 

"  It's  been  worrying  'im  some  time,"  pursued 
Mr.  Smith.  "  'E  'asn't  got  nobody  belonging  to 
*im,  and  for  a  long  time  'e  couldn't  think  *ow  to 

303 


At  Sunwich  Port 

leave  it.    Wot  with  'ouse  property  and  other  things 
it's  a  matter  of  over  ten  thousand  pounds." 

"  Good  'eavens!"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  who  felt  that 
he  was  expected  to  say  something. 

"  Dr.  Blaikie  was  the  other  witness,"  continued 
Mr.  Smith,  disregarding  the  interruption;  "and  Mr. 
Swann  made  us  both  promise  to  keep  it  a  dead  se- 
cret till  'e's  gone,  but  out  o'  friendship  to  you  I 
thought  I'd  step  round  ahd  let  you  know." 

The  emphasis  on  the  words  was  unmistakable ; 
Mrs.  Kybird  dropped  her  work  and  sat  staring  at 
him,  while  her  husband  wriggled  with  excitement. 

"'E  ain't  left  it  to  me,  1  s'pose  ?  "  he  said,  with  a 
feeble  attempt  at  jocularity. 

"Not  a  brass  farden,"  replied  his  friend,  cheer- 
fully.    "  Not  to  none  of  you.      Why  should  'e  ?  " 

"  He  ain't  left  it  to  Jack,  I  s'pose?  "  said  Miss 
Kybird,  who  had  suspended  her  work  to  listen. 

"  No,  my  dear,"  replied  the  boarding-master. 
"  E's  made  'is  will  all  ship-shape  and  proper,  and 
*e's  left  everything — all  that  'ouse  property  and  other 
things,  amounting  to  over  ten  thousand  pounds — to  a 
young  man  becos  'e  was  jilt — crossed  in  love  a  few 
months  ago,  and  becos  'e's  been  a  good  and  faithftil 
servant  to  'im  for  years." 

"  Don*t  tell  me,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  desperately ; 
"  don't  tell  me  that  'e's  been  and  left  all  that  money 
to  young  Teddy  Silk." 

304 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Well,  I  won't  if  you  don't  want  me  to,"  said 
the  accommodating  Mr.  Smith,  "  but,  mind,  it's  a 
dead  secret." 

Mr.  Kybird  wiped  his  brow,  and  red  patches,  due 
to  excitement,  lent  a  little  variety  to  an  otherwise 
commonplace  face;  Mrs.  Kybird's  dazed  inquiry, 
"  Wot  are  we  a-coming  to  ?  "  fell  on  deaf  ears  ;  while 
Miss  Kybird,  leaning  forward  with  lips  parted,  fixed 
her  eyes  intently  on  Mr.  Smith's  face. 

"  It's  a  pity  'e  didn't  leave  it  to  young  Nugent," 
said  that  gentleman,  noting  with  much  pleasure  the 
effect  of  his  announcement,  "but  'e  can't  stand  'im 
at  no  price ;  'e  told  me  so  'imself.  I  s'pose  young 
Teddy'U  be  quite  the  gentleman  now,  and  'e'll  be 
able  to  marry  who  'e  likes." 

Mr.  Kybird  thrust  his  handkerchief  into  his  tail- 
pocket,  and  all  the  father  awoke  within  him.  "  Ho, 
will  'e  ?  "  he  said,  with  fierce  sarcasm.  "  Ho,  in- 
deed !  And  wot  about  my  daughter  ?  I  'ave  'eard 
of  such  things  as  breach  o'  promise.  Before  Mr. 
Teddy  gets  married  'e's  got  to  'ave  a  few  words 
with  me." 

"  'E's  behaved  very  bad,"  said  Mrs.  Kybird, 
nodding. 

"  'E  comei  'ere  night  after  night,"  said  Mr.  Ky- 
bird, working  himself  up  into  a  fury  ;  "  'e  walked 
out  with  my  gal  for  months  and  months,  and  then  'e 
takes  'imself  ofFas  if  we  wasn't  good  enough  for  'im.'* 

305 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  The  suppers  'e's  'ad  *ere  you  wouldn't  believe,** 
said  Mrs.  Kybird,  addressing  the  visitor. 

"  Takes  'imself  off, "  repeated  her  husband ; 
"  takes  'imself  off  as  if  we  was  dirt  beneath  'is  feet, 
and  never  been  back  to  give  a  explanation  from  that 
day  to  this." 

"  I'm  not  easy  surprised,"  said  Mrs.  Kybird,  "  I 
never  was  from  a  gal,  but  I  must  say  Teddy's  been 
a  surprise  to  me.  If  anybody  'ad  told  me  'e'd  ha' 
behaved  like  that  I  wouldn't  ha'  believed  it ;  I 
couldn't.  I've  never  said  much  about  it,  becos  my 
pride  wouldn't  let  me.  We  all  'ave  our  faults,  and 
mine  is  pride." 

"  I  shall  bring  a  breach  o'  promise  action  agin  'im 
for  jive  thousand  pounds^'  said  Mr.  Kybird,  with 
decision. 

"  Talk  sense,"  said  Nathan  Smith,  shortly. 

"  Sense  !  "  cried  Mr.  Kybird.  "  Is  my  gal  to  be 
j>layed  fast  and  loose  with  like  that  ?  Is  my  gal  to 
be  pitched  over  when  'e  likes  ?     Is  my  gal " 

"  Wot's  the  good  o'  talking  like  that  to  me  ? " 
said  the  indignant  Mr.  Smith.  "  The  best  thing 
you  can  do  is  to  get  'er  married  to  Teddy  at  once, 
afore  'e  knows  of  'is  luck." 

"  And  when'U  that  be  ?  "  inquired  his  friend,  in  a 
calmer  voice. 

"  Any  time,"  said  the  boarding-master,  shrugging 
his  shoulders.   "The  old  gentleman  might  go  out  to- 

306 


At  Sunwcih  Port 

night,  or  again  'e  might  live  on  for  a  week  or  more. 
'E  was  so  weak  'e  couldn't  'ardly  sign  'is  name." 

"  I  'ope  'e  *as  signed  it  all  right,"  said  Mr.  Ky- 
bird,  starting. 

"  Safe  as  'ouses,"  said  his  friend. 

"  Well,  why  not  wait  till  Teddy  'as  got  the 
money  ? "  suggested  Mrs.  Kybird,  with  a  knowing 
shake  of  her  head. 

"  Becos,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  in  a  grating  voice,  "  be- 
cos  for  one  thing  *e*d  be  a  rich  man  then  and  could 
'ave  'is  pick.  Teddy  Silk  on  a  pound  or  there- 
abouts a  week  and  Teddy  Silk  with  ten  thousand 
pounds  'ud  be  two  different  people.  Besides  that 
'e'd  think  she  was  marrying  'im  for  'is  money." 

"  If  'e  thought  that,"  said  Mrs.  Kybird,  firmly, 
"  I'd  never  forgive  'im." 

"  My  advice  to  you,"  said  Nathan  Smith,  shak- 
ing his  forefinger  impressively,  "  is  to  get  *em  mar- 
ried on  the  quiet  and  as  soon  as  possible.  Once 
they're  tied  up  Teddy  can't  'elp  'imself." 

"Why  on  the  quiet?"  demanded  Mr.  Kybird, 
sharply. 

The  boarding-master  uttered  an  impatient  ex- 
clamation. "  Becos  if  Mr.  Swann  got  to  'ear  of  it 
he'd  guess  I'd  been  blabbing,  for  one  thing,"  he  said, 
sharply,  "  and  for  another,  'e  left  it  to  *im  partly  to 
make  up  for  'is  disappointment — he'd  been  disap- 
pointed 'imself  in  'is  younger  days,  so  *e  told  me. 

.307 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Suppose  'e  managed  to  get  enough  strength  to  alter 
'is  will?" 

Mr.  Kybird  shivered.  "  It  takes  time  to  get 
married,  though,"  he  objected. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  ironically,  "  it  does.  Get 
round  young  Teddy,  and  then  put  the  banns  up. 
Take  your  time  about  it,  and  be  sure  and  let  Mr. 
Swann  know.  D'ye  think  'e  wouldn't  understand 
wot  it  meant,  and  spoil  it,  to  say  nothing  of  Teddy 
seeing  through  it.? " 

"  Well,  wot's  to  be  done,  then  ?  "  inquired  the  star- 
ing Mr.  Kybird. 

"  Send  'em  up  to  London  and  'ave  'em  married  by 
special  license,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  speaking  rapidly — 
"  to-morrow,  if  possible ;  if  not,  the  day  after.  Go 
and  pitch  a  tale  to  Teddy  to-night,  and  make  'im 
understand  it's  to  be  done  on  the  strict  q.t" 

"Special  licenses  cost  money,"  said  Mr.  Kybird. 
**  I  'ave  *eard  it's  a  matter  o'  thirty  pounds  or  there- 
abouts." 

Mr.  Nathan  Smith  rose,  and  his  eyes  were  almost 
expressive.  He  nodded  good-night  to  the  ladies 
and  crossed  to  the  door.  Mrs.  Kybird  suddenly 
seized  him  by  the  coat  and  held  him. 

"  Don't  be  in  a  'urry,  Nat,"  she  pleaded*  "  We 
ain't  all  as  clever  as  you  are." 

"  Talk     about     looking     a     gift-'orse     in     the 

mouth "  began  the  indignant  Mr.  Smith. 

jo8 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Sit  down,"  urged  Mr.  Kybird.  "  You  can^ 
expect  us  to  be  as  quick  in  seeing  things  as  wot  you 
are." 

He   pushed  his   partly  mollified  friend  into  his 


'  Mrs.  Kybird  suddenly  sazed  him  by  the  coat.* 


chair  again,  and  taking  a  seat  next  him  began  to 
view  the  affair  with  enthusiasm. 

"  'Melia  shall  turn  young  Nugent  off  to-night,** 
he  said,  firmly. 

"  That's  right,"  said  the  other ;  "  go  and  do  a 
3^9 


At  Sunwich  Port 

few  more  silly  things  like  that  and  we  shall  be  *appy. 
If  you'd  got  a  'ead  instead  of  wot  you  'ave  got, 
you  wouldn't  talk  of  giving  the  show  away  like  that. 
Nobody  must  know  or  guess  about  anything  until 
young  Teddy  is  married  to  'Melia  and  got  the 
money." 

"It  seems  something  like  deceitfulness,"  said 
Miss  Kybird,  who  had  been  listening  to  the  plans 
for  her  future  with  admirable  composure. 

"  It's  for  Teddy's  own  sake,"  said  Nathan  Smith. 
"  Everybody  knows  'e's  half  crazy  after  you." 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  don't  like  'im  best,  even 
without  the  money,"  said  Miss  Kybird,  calmly. 
"  Nobody  could  'ave  been  more  attentive  than  'im. 
I  believe  that  'e'd  marry  me  if  'e  'ad  a  hundred 
thousand,  but  it  looks  better  your  way." 

"  Better  all  round,"  said  Nathan  Smith,  with  ar 
approving  nod.  "  Now,  Dan'l,  'op  round  to  Teddy 
and  whistle  'im  back,  and  mind  'e's  to  keep  it  a 
dead  secret  on  account  o'  trouble  with  young  Nu- 
gent.    D'ye  twig? " 

The  admiring  Mr.  Kybird  said  that  he  was  a 
wonder,  and,  in  the  discussion  on  ways  and  means 
which  followed,  sat  listening  with  growing  respect 
to  the  managing  abilities  both  of  his  friend  and  his 
wife.  Difficulties  were  only  mentioned  for  the  pur- 
pose of  being  satisfactorily  solved,  and  he  noticed 
with  keen  appreciation  that  the  prospect  of  a  ten 

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At  Sunwich  Port 

thousand  pound  son-in-law  was  already  adding  to 
that  lady's  dignity.  She  sniffed  haughtily  as  she 
spoke  of  "  that  Nugent  lot ";  and  the  manner  in 
which  she  promised  Mr.  Smith  that  he  should  not 
lose  by  his  services  would  have  graced  a  duchess. 

"  I  didn't  expect  to  lose  by  it,"  said  the  boarding- 
master,  pointedly.  "  Come  over  and  'ave  a  glass  at 
the  Chequers,  Dan,  and  then  you  can  go  along  and 
see  Teddy." 


SU 


CHAPTER     XXIII 

THE  summer  evening  was  well  advanced 
when  Mr.  Kybird  and  his  old  friend  parted. 
The  former  gentleman  was  in  almost  a  sen- 
timental mood,  and  the  boarding-master,  satisfied 
that  his  pupil  was  in  a  particularly  appropriate  frame 
of  mind  for  the  object  of  his  visit,  renewed  his  instruc- 
tions about  binding  Mr.  Silk  to  secrecy,  and  departed 
on  business  of  his  own. 

Mr.  Kybird  walked  slowly  towards  FuUalove 
Alley  with  his  head  sunk  in  meditation.  He  was 
anxious  to  find  Mr.  Silk  alone,  as  otherwise  the 
difficulty  of  his  errand  would  be  considerably  in- 
creased, Mrs.  Silk's  intelligence  being  by  no  mean: 
obscured  by  any  ungovernable  affection  for  the  Ky- 
bird family.  If  she  was  at  home  she  would  have  to 
invent  some  pretext  for  luring  Teddy  into  the  pri- 
vacy of  the  open  air. 

The  lamp  was  lit  in  the  front  room  by  the  time 
he  reached  the  house,  and  the  shadows  of  geraniums 
which  had  won  through  several  winters  formed  a 
straggling  pattern  on  the  holland  blind.  Mr.  Ky- 
bird, first  making  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  peep 

312 


At  Sunwich  Port 


round  the  edges  of  this  decoration,  tapped  gently  on 
the  door,  and  in  response  to  a  command  to  "  Come 


in,"  turned  the 
handle  and 
looked  into 
the  room.  To 
his  relief,  he 
saw  that  Mr. 
Silk  was  alone. 
"  Good  even- 
ing,  Teddy," 
he  said,  with 
a  genial  smile,  as  he  entered  slowly  and  closed  the 
door  behind  him.     "  I  'ope  I  see  you  well?  " 

"  I'm  quite  well,"  returned  Mr.  Silk,  gazing  at  him 
with  unconcealed  surprise. 

313 


"  Mr.  Kybird  and  his  old  friend  parted." 


At  Sunwich  Port 

**  I'm  glad  to  'ear  it,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  in  a  some- 
what reproachful  voice,  "  for  your  sake  ;  for  every- 
body's sake,  though,  p'r'aps,  I  did  expect  to  find  you 
looking  a  little  bit  down.  Ah  !  it's  the  wimmen  that 
'ave  the  'arts  after  all." 

Mr.  Silk  coughed.  "  What  d'ye  mean  ?  "  he  in- 
quired, somewhat  puzzled. 

"I  came  to  see  you,  Teddy,  on  a  very  delikit  busi- 
ness," said  Mr.  Kybird,  taking  a  seat  and  gazing  dif- 
fidently at  his  hat  as  he  swung  it  between  his  hands  ; 
"though,  as  man  to  man,  I'm  on'y  doing  of  my  dooty. 
But  if  you  don't  want  to  'ear  wot  I've  got  to  say,  say 
so,  and  Dan'l  Kybird'll  darken  your  door  no  more." 

"  How  can  I  know  whether  I  want  to  'ear  it  or 
not  when  I  don't  know  wot  it  is  ?  "  said  Mr.  Silk, 
judiciously. 

Mr.  Kybird  sat  biting  his  thumb-nail,  then  he 
looked  up  suddenly.  "'Melia,"  he  said,  with  an 
outburst  of  desperate  frankness,  "  'Melia  is  crying 
*er  eyes  out." 

Mr.  Silk,  with  a  smothered  exclamation,  started 
up  from  his  chair  and  regarded  him  eagerly. 

"  If  she  knew  I'd  been  'ere,"  pursued  Mr.  Ky- 
bird, "  she'd 1  don't  know  wot  she  wouldn't  do. 

That's  'er  pride;  but  I've  got  my  pride  too;  the 
pride  of  a  father's  'art." 

"  What — what's  she  crying  aboiit  ?  "  Inquired 
Mr.  Silk,  in  an  unsteady  voice. 

314 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  She's  been  looking  poorly  for  some  time,"  con- 
tinued the  veracious  Mr.  Kybird,  "and  crying. 
When  I  tell  you  that  part  o'  the  wedding-dress  wot 
she  was  making  'ad  to  be  taken  away  from  'er  be- 
cause o'  the  tears  she  dropped  on  it,  you  may  'ave 
some  idea  of  wot  things  are  like.  She's  never  for- 
got you,  Teddy,  and  it  was  on'y  your  quick  temper 
that  day  that  made  'er  take  on  with  young  Nugent. 
She's  got  a  temper,  too,  but  she  give  'er  love  once, 
and,  being  my  daughter,  she  couldn't  give  it  agin." 

He  stole  a  glance  at  his  listener.  Mr.  Silk,  very 
pale  and  upright,  was  standing  on  the  hearthrug, 
shaking  all  over  with  nervous  excitement.  Twice 
he  tried  to  speak  and  failed. 

"  That's  'ow  it  is,  Teddy,"  sighed  Mr.  Kybird, 
rising  as  though  to  depart.  "  I've  done  my  dooty. 
It  was  a  'ard  thing  to  do,  but  I've  done  it." 

"  Do  you  mean,"  said  Mr.  Silk,  recovering  his 
voice  at  last,  "  do  you  mean  that  Amelia  would 
marry  me  after  all  ?  " 

"  Do  I  mean  ?  "  repeated  Mr.  Kybird,  naturally 
indignant  that  his  very  plain  speaking  should  be 
deemed  capable  of  any  misconstruction.  "  Am  I 
speaking  to  a  stock  or  a  stone,  Teddy? " 

Mr.  Silk  took  a  deep  breath,  and  buttoned  up 
his  coat,  as  though  preparing  to  meet  Mr.  Nugent 
there  and  then  in  deadly  encounter  for  the  person 
of   Miss    Kybird.     The   colour   was    back   in   his 

315 


At  Sunwich   Port 


■ 


cheeks  by  this  time,  and  his  eyes  were  unusually 
bright.  He  took  a  step  towards  Mr.  Kybird  and, 
pressing  his  hand  warmly,  pushed  him  back  into 
his  seat  again. 

"  There's  'er  pride  to  consider,  Teddy,"  said  the 
latter  gentleman,  with  the  whisper  of  a  conspirator. 
"  She  can't  stand  being  talked  about  all  over  the 
town  and  pointed  at." 

"  Let  me  see  anybody  a-pointing  at  'er,"  said  the 
truculent  Mr.  Silk  ;  "let  me  see  'em,  that's  all." 

"  That's  the  way  to  talk,  Teddy,"  said  Mr.  Ky- 
bird, gazing  at  him  with  admiration. 

"  Talk  1  "  said  the  heroic  Mr.  Silk.  "  I'll  do  more 
than  talk."  He  clenched  his  fists  and  paced  boldly 
up  and  down  the  hearthrug. 

"  You  leave  things  to  me,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  with 
a  confidential  wink.  "  I'll  see  that  it's  all  right. 
All  I  ask  of  you  is  to  keep  it  a  dead  secret ;  even 
your  mother  mustn't  know." 

"  I'll  be  as  secret  as  the  grave,"  said  the  over- 
joyed Mr.  Silk. 

"  There's  lots  o'  things  to  be  taken  into  consider- 
ation," said  Mr.  Kybird,  truthfully;  "  it  might  be 
as  well  for  you  to  be  married  immediate." 

"  Immediate  ?  "  said  the  astonished  Mr.  Silk. 

"  She  'asn't  got  the  nerve  to  send  young  Nugent 
about  'is  business,"  explained  Mr.  Kybird ;  "  she 
feels  sorry  for  'im,  pore  fellow  ;  but  'e's  got  a  loving 

3i6 


At  Sunwich  Port 

and  affectionate  'art,  and  she  can't  bear  'im  making 
love  to  'er.  You  can  understand  what  it  is,  can't 
you  r 

"  I  can  imagine  it,"  said  Mr.  Silk,  gloomily,  and 
he  flushed  crimson  as  the  possibilities  suggested  by 
the  remark  occurred  to  him. 

"  I've  been  thinking  it  over  for  some  time,"  re- 
sumed Mr.  Kybird ;  "  twisting  it  and  turning  it  all 
ways,  and  the  only  thing  I  can  see  for  it  is  for  you 
to  be  married  on  the  strict  q.t.  Of  course,  if  you 
don't,  like " 

"  Like  ! "  repeated  the  transported  Mr.  Silk. 
**  I'll  go  and  be  married  now,  if  you  like." 

Mr.  Kybird  shook  his  head  at  such  haste,  and 
then  softening  a  little  observed  that  it  did  him 
credit.  He  proceeded  to  improve  the  occasion  by 
anecdotes  of  his  own  courting  some  thirty  years  be- 
fore, and  was  in  the  middle  of  a  thrilling  account  of 
the  manner  in  which  he  had  bearded  the  whole  of 
his  future  wife's  family,  when  a  quick  step  outside, 
which  paused  at  the  door,  brought  him  to  a  sudden 
halt. 

"  Mother,"  announced  Mr.  Silk,  in  a  whisper. 

Mr.  Kybird  nodded,  and  the  heroic  appearance 
of  visage  which  had  accompanied  his  tale  gave  way 
to  an  expression  of  some  uneasiness.  He  coughed 
behind  his  hand,  and  sat  gazing  before  him  as  Mrs. 
Silk  entered  the  room  and  gave  vent  to  an  excla- 

317 


At  Sunwich  Port 

mation  of  astonishment  as  she  saw  the  visitor.  She 
gazed  sharply  from  him  to  her  son.  Mr.  Kybird's 
expression  was  now  normal,  but  despite  his  utmost 
efforts  Mr.  Silk  could  not  entirely  banish  the  smile 
which  trembled  on  his  lips. 

"  Me  and  Teddy,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  turning  to 
her  with  a  little  bob,  which  served  him  for  a  bow, 
"  *ave  just  been  having  a  little  talk  about  old  times." 

"  He  was  just  passing,"  said  Mr.  Silk. 

"Just  passing,  and  thought  I'd  look  in,"  said 
Mr.  Kybird,  with  a  careless  little  laugh  ;  "  the  door 
was  open  a  bit." 

"  Wide  open,"  corroborated  Mr.  Silk. 

"  So  I  just  came  in  to  say  '  *Ow  d'ye  do  ?  *  "  said 
Mr.  Kybird. 

Mrs.  Silk's  sharp,  white  face  turned  from  one  to 
the  other.    "  'Ave  you  said  it  ? "  she  inquired,  blandly. 

"  I  'ave,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  restraining  Mr.  Silk's 
evident  intention  of  hot  speech  by  a  warning  glance  ; 
"  and  now  I'll  just  toddle  off  'ome." 

"  I'll  go  a  bit  o'  the  way  with  you,"  said  Edward 
Silk.  "  I  feel  as  if  a  bit  of  a  walk  would  do  me 
good." 

Left  alone,  the  astonished  Mrs.  Silk  took  the  vis- 
itor's vacated  chair  and,  with  wrinkled  brow,  sat  put- 
ting two  and  two  together  until  the  sum  got  beyond 
her  powers  of  calculation.  Mr.  Kybird's  affability 
and  Teddy's  cheerfulness  were  alike  incomprehen- 


At  Sunwich  Port 

sible.  She  mended  a  hole  in  her  pocket  and  darned 
a  pair  of  socks,  and  at  last,  anxious  for  advice,  or 
at  least  a  confidant,  resolved  to  see  Mr.  Wilks. 

She  opened  the  door  and  looked  across  the  alley, 
And  saw  with  some  satisfaction  that  his  blind  was 
illuminated.  She  closed  the  door  behind  her  sharply, 
and  then  stood  gasping  on  the  doorstep.  So  sim- 
ultaneous were  the  two  happenings  that  it  actually 
appeared  as  though  the  closing  of  the  door  had  blown 
Mr.  Wilks's  lamp  out.  It  was  a  night  of  surprises, 
but  after  a  moment's  hesitation  she  stepped  over  and 
tried  his  door.  It  was  fast,  and  there  was  no  answer 
to  her  knuckling.  She  knocked  louder  and  listened. 
A  door  slammed  violently  at  the  back  of  the  house, 
a  distant  clatter  of  what  sounded  like  saucepans 
came  from  beyond,  and  above  it  all  a  tremulous 
but  harsh  voice  bellowed  industriously  through  an 
interminable  chant.  By  the  time  the  third  verse 
was  reached  Mr.  Wilks's  neighbours  on  both  sides 
were  beating  madly  upon  their  walls  and  blood-cur- 
dling threats  strained  through  the  plaster. 

She  stayed  no  longer,  but  regaining  her  own  door 
sat  down  again  to  await  the  return  of  her  son.  Mr. 
Silk  was  long  in  coming,  and  she  tried  in  vain  to  oc- 
cupy herself  with  various  small  jobs  as  she  specu- 
lated in  vain  on  the  meaning  of  the  events  of  the 
night.  She  got  up  and  stood  by  the  open  door,  and 
as  she  waited  the  clock  in  the  church-tower,  which 

319 


At  Sunwich  Port 

rose  over  the  roofs  hard  by,  slowly  boomed  out  the 
hour  of  eleven.  As  the  echoes  of  the  last  stroke 
died  away  the  figure  of  Mr.  Silk  turned  into  the  alley. 


**  He  took  up  his  candle  and  went  off  whistling." 

"You  must  'ave  'ad  quite  a  nice  walk,"  said  his 
mother,  as  she  drew  back  into  the  room  and  noted 
the  brightness  of  his  eye. 

320 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  s'pose  'e's  been  and  asked  you  to  the  wed- 
ding ?  "  said  the  sarcastic  Mrs.  Silk. 

Her  son  started  and,  turning  his  back  on  her, 
wound  up  the  clock.  "  Yes,  *e  has,"  he  said,  with  a 
sly  grin. 

Mrs.  Silk's  eyes  snapped.  "  Well,  of  all  the  im- 
pudence  "  she  said,  breathlessly. 

"Well,  *e  has,"  said  her  son,  hugging  himself 
over  the  joke.     "And,  what's  more,  I'm  going." 

He  composed  his  face  sufficiently  to  bid  her 
"  good-night,"  and,  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  her  remon- 
strances and  inquiries,  took  up  a  candle  and  went 
off  whistling. 


Sf> 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

THE  idea  in  the  mind  of  Mr.  James  Hardy 
when  he  concocted  his  infamous  plot  was 
that  Jack  Nugent  would  be  summarily  dis- 
missed on  some  pretext  by  Miss  Kybird,  and  that 
steps  would  at  once  be  taken  by  her  family  to  pub- 
lish her  banns  together  with  those  of  Mr.  Silk.  In 
thinking  thus  he  had  made  no  allowance  for  the 
workings  and  fears  of  such  a  capable  mind  as  Na- 
than Smith's,  and  as  days  passed  and  nothing  hap- 
pened he  became  a  prey  to  despair. 

He  watched  Mr.  Silk  keenly,  but  that  gentleman 
went  about  his  work  in  his  usual  quiet  and  gloomy 
fashion,  and,  after  a  day's  leave  for  the  purpose  of 
arranging  the  affairs  of  a  sick  aunt  in  Camberwell, 
came  back  only  a  little  less  gloomy  than  before.  It 
was  also  clear  that  Mr.  Swann's  complaisance  was 
nearly  at  an  end,  and  a  letter,  couched  in  vigorous, 
not  to  say  regrettable,  terms  for  a  moribund  man, 
expressed  such  a  desire  for  fresh  air  and  exercise  that 
Hardy  was  prepared  to  see  him  at  any  moment. 

It  was  the  more  unfortunate  as  he  thought  that 
he  had  of  late  detected  a  slight  softening  in  Captain 
Nugent's  manner  towards  him.     On  two  occasions 

^22 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  captain,  who  was  out  when  he  called,  had  made 
no  comment  to  find  upon  his  return  that  the  visitor 
was  being  entertained  by  his  daughter,  going  so  far, 
indeed,  as  to  permit  the  conversation  to  gain  vastly 
in  interest  by  that  young  person  remaining  in  the 
room.  In  face  of  this  improvement  he  thought 
with  dismay  of  having  to  confess  failure  in  a  scheme 
which  apart  from  success  was  inexcusable. 

The  captain  had  also  unbent  in  another  direction, 
and  Mr.  Wilks,  to  his  great  satisfaction,  was  allowed 
to  renew  his  visits  to  Equator  Lodge  and  assist  his 
old  master  in  the  garden.  Here  at  least  the  stew- 
ard was  safe  from  the  designs  of  Mrs.  Silk  and  the 
innuendoes  of  Fullalove  Alley. 

It  was  at  this  time,  too,  that  the  widow  stood  in 
most  need  of  his  advice,  the  behaviour  of  Edward 
Silk  being  of  a  nature  to  cause  misgivings  in  any 
mother's  heart.  A  strange  restlessness  possessed 
him,  varied  with  occasional  outbursts  of  hilarity  and 
good  nature.  Dark  hints  emanated  from  him  at 
these  times  concerning  a  surprise  in  store  for  her  at 
no  distant  date,  hints  which  were  at  once  explained 
away  in  a  most  unsatisfactory  manner  when  she  be- 
came too  pressing  in  her  inquiries.  He  haunted 
the  High  Street,  and  when  the  suspicious  Mrs.  Silk 
spoke  of  Amelia  he  only  laughed  and  waxed  hu- 
morous over  such  unlikely  subjects  as  broken 
hearts  and  broken  vows. 

323 


At  Sunwich  Port 

It  was  a  week  after  Mr.  Kybird's  visit  to  the 
alley  that  he  went,  as  usual,  for  a  stroll  up  and  down 
the  High  Street.  The  evening  was  deepening,  and 
some  of  the  shops  had  already  lit  up,  as  Mr.  Silk, 
with  his  face  against  the  window-pane,  tried  in  vain 
to  penetrate  the  obscurity  of  Mr.  Kybird's  shop. 
He  could  just  make  out  a  dim  figure  behind  the 
counter,  which  he  believed  to  be  Amelia,  when  a 
match  was  struck  and  a  gas-jet  threw  a  sudden  light 
in  the  shop  and  revealed  Mr.  Jack  Nugent  standing 
behind  the  counter  with  his  hand  on  the  lady's 
shoulder. 

One  glance  was  sufficient.  The  next  moment 
there  was  a  sharp  cry  from  Miss  Kybird  and  a  be- 
wildered stare  from  Nugent  as  something,  only  com- 
parable to  a  human  cracker,  bounced  into  the  shop 
and  commenced  to  explode  before  them. 

"  Take  your  'and  off,"  raved  Mr.  Silk.  "  Leave 
'er  alone.  'Ow  dare  you .?  D'ye  hear  me?  'Melia, 
I  won't  'ave  it !     I  won't  'ave  it ! " 

"  Don't  be  silly,  Teddy,"  remonstrated  Mr.  Nu- 
gent, following  up  Miss  Kybird,  as  she  edged  away 
from  him. 

"Leave  'er  alone,  d'ye  'ear?"  yelled  Mr.  Silk, 
thumping  the  counter  with  his  small  fist.  "  She's 
my  wife!  " 

"  Teddy's  mad,"  said  Mr.  Nugent,  calmly, 
"  stark,  staring,  raving  mad.     Poor  Teddy." 

324 


At  Sunwich  Port 


He  shook  his  head  sadly,  and  had  just  begun  to 
recommend  a  few  remedies,  when  the  parlour  door 


n,  appeared 

doorway. 

o's    m 

noise 

manded    the   former, 

looking  from  one  to 

the  other. 

"/  am,"  said  Mr.  Silk,  fiercely.     "It's  no  use 

your  winking  at  me  ;  I'm  not  going  to  'ave  any  more 

3*5 


'  He  could  just  make  out  a  dim  rigure  behind 
the  counter." 


At  Sunwich  Port 

of  this  nonsense.  'Melia,  you  go  and  get  your  *at 
on  and  come  straight  off  'ome  with  me." 

Mr.  Kybird  gave  a  warning  cough.  "  Go  easy, 
Teddy,"  he  murmured. 

"  And  don't  you  cough  at  me,"  said  the  irritated 
Mr.  Silk,  "  because  it  won't  do  no  good." 

Mr.  Kybird  subsided.  He  was  not  going  to  quar- 
rel with  a  son-in-law  who  might  at  any  moment  be 
worth  ten  thousand  pounds. 

"Isn't  he  mad?"  inquired  the  amazed  Mr.  Nugent. 

"  Cert'niy  not,"  replied  Mr.  Kybird,  moving 
aside  to  let  his  daughter  pass ;  "  no  madder  than 
you  are.     Wot  d'ye  mean,  mad  ?  " 

Mr.  Nugent  looked  round  in  perplexity.  "  Do 
you  mean  to  tell  me  that  Teddy  and  Amelia  are  mar- 
ried ? "  he  said,  in  a  voice  trembling  with  eagerness. 

"  I  do,"  said  Mr.  Kybird.  "  It  seems  they've 
been  fond  of  one  another  all  along,  and  they  went  up 
all  unbeknown  last  Friday  and  got  a  license  and  got 
married." 

"  And  if  I  see  you  putting  your  'and  on  'er  shoul- 
der ag'in "  said  Mr.  Silk,  with  alarming  vague- 
ness. 

"  But  suppose  she  asks  me  to  ?  "  said  the  delighted 
Mr.  Nugent,  with  much  gravity. 

"  Look  'ere,  we  don't  want  none  o'  your  non- 
sense," broke  in  the  irate  Mrs.  Kybird,  pushing  her 
way  past  her  husband  and  confronting  the  speaker- 

326 


At  Sunwich  Port 


"I've  been  deceived,"  said  Mr.  Nugent,  in  a 
thrilling  voice;  "you've  all  been  deceiving  me. 
Kybird,  I  blush  for  you  ( that'll  save  you  a  lot 
of  trouble).  Teddy,  I 
wouldn't  have  believed  it 
of  you.  I  can't  stay  here ; 
my  heart  is  broken." 


**  «  But  suppose  «he  asks  me  to  ? '  said  the  delighted  Mr.  Nugent." 

"Well,   we   don't   want   you    to,"  retorted    the 
aggressive  Mrs.  Kybird.     "  You  can  take  yourself 

327 


At  Sunwich  Port 

off  as  soon  as  ever  you  like.  You  can't  be  coo  quick 
to  please  me." 

Mr.  Nugent  bowed  and  walked  past  the  coun- 
ter. "  And  not  even  a  bit  of  wedding-cake  for  me,*^ 
he  said,  shaking  a  reproachful  head  at  the  heated 
Mr.  Silk.    "  Why,  I'd  put  you  down  first  on  my  list." 

He  paused  at  the  door,  and  after  a  brief  intimation 
that  he  would  send  for  his  effects  on  the  following 
day,  provided  that  his  broken  heart  had  not  proved 
fatal  in  the  meantime,  waved  his  hand  to  the  com- 
pany and  departed.  Mr.  Kybird  followed  him  to 
the  door  as  though  to  see  him  off  the  premises,  and 
gazing  after  the  receding  figure  swelled  with  indig- 
nation as  he  noticed  that  he  favoured  a  mode  of 
progression  which  was  something  between  a  walk 
and  a  hornpipe. 

Mr.  Nugent  had  not  been  in  such  spirits  since  his 
return  to  Sunwich,  and,  hardly  able  to  believe  in  his 
good  fortune,  he  walked  on  in  a  state  of  growing 
excitement  until  he  was  clear  of  the  town.  Then 
he  stopped  to  consider  his  next  move,  and  after  a 
little  deliberation  resolved  to  pay  a  visit  to  Jem 
Hardy  and  acquaint  him  v/ith  the  joyful  tidings. 

That  gentleman,  however,  was  out,  and  Mr.  Nu- 
gent, somewhat  irritated  at  such  thoughtlessness, 
stood  in  the  road  wondering  where  to  go  next. 
It  was  absolutely  impossible  for  him  to  sleep  that 
night  without  telling  the  good  news  to  somebody, 

328 


At  Sunwich  Port 

and  after  some  thought  he  selected  Mr.  Wilks.  It 
was  true  that  relations  had  been  somewhat  strained 
between  them  since  the  latter's  attempt  at  crimping 
him,  but  he  was  never  one  to  bear  malice,  and  to- 
night he  was  full  of  the  kindliest  thoughts  to  all 
mankind. 

He  burst  into  Mr.  Wilks's  front  room  suddenly 
and  then  pulled  up  short.  The  steward,  with  a 
pitiable  look  of  anxiety  on  his  pallid  features,  was 
leaning  awkwardly  against  the  mantelpiece,  and 
opposite  him  Mrs.  Silk  sat  in  an  easy-chair,  dis- 
solved in  tears. 

"  Busy,  Sam  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Nugent,  who  had 
heard  of  the  steward's  difficulties  from  Hardy. 

"  No,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  hastily  ;  "  sit  down, 
sir." 

He  pushed  forward  a  chair  and,  almost  pulling 
his  visitor  into  it,  stood  over  him  attentively  and 
took  his  hat. 

"  Are  you  quite  sure  I'm  not  interrupting  you  ? " 
inquired  the  thoughtful  Mr.  Nugent. 

"  Certain  sure,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  eagerly.  "  I 
was  just  'aving  a  bit  of  a  chat  with  my  neighbour, 
Mrs.  Silk,  'ere,  that's  all." 

The  lady  in  question  removed  her  handkerchief 
from  her  eyes  and  gazed  at  him  with  reproachful 
tenderness.  Mr.  Wilks  plunged  hastily  into  con- 
versation. 

329 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  She  came  over  'ere  to  tell  me  a  bit  o'  news,**  he 
said,  eyeing  the  young  man  doubtfully.  "  It  seems 
that  Teddy " 

Mr.  Nugent  fetched  a  mighty  sigh  and  shook  his 
head  ;   Mrs.  Silk  gazed  at  him  earnestly. 

**  Life  is  full  of  surprises,  sir,"  she  remarked. 

"  And  sadness,"  added  Mr.  Nugent.  "  I  hope 
that  they  will  be  happy." 

"  It  struck  me  all  of  a  'eap,"  said  Mrs.  Silk,  roll- 
ing her  handkerchief  into  a  ball  and  placing  it  in 
her  lap.  "  I  was  doing  a  bit  of  ironing  when  in 
walks  Teddy  with  Amelia  Kybird,  and  says  they 
was  married  last  Friday.  I  was  that  shaken  I 
didn't  know  what  I  did  or  what  I  said.  Then  I 
came  over  as  soon  as  I  could,  because  I  thought 
Mr.  Wilks  ought  to  know  about  it." 

Mr.  Wilks  cleared  his  throat  and  turned  an  ago- 
nized eye  on  Mr.  Nugent.  He  would  have  liked 
to  have  asked  why  Mrs.  Silk  should  think  it  neces- 
sary to  inform  him,  but  the  fear  of  precipitating  a 
crisis  stayed  his  tongue. 

"  What  I'm  to  do,  I  don't  know,"  continued 
Mrs.  Silk,  feebly.  "  You  can't  *ave  two  queens  in 
one  'ouse,  so  to  speak." 

"  But  she  was  walking  out  with  Teddy  long 
ago,"  urged  Mr.  Wilks.  "  It's  no  worse  now  than 
then." 

"  But  I  wouldn't  be  married  by  license,"  said 
330 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Mrs.  Silk,  deftly  ignoring  the  remark.  "  If  I  can't 
be  asked  in  church  in  the  proper  way  I  won't  be 
married  at  all." 

"  Quite  right,"  said  Mr.  Nugent ;  «  there's  some- 
thing so  sudden  about  a  license,"  he  added,  with 
feeling. 

"  Me  and  Mr.  Wilks  was  talking  about  marriage 
only  the  other  day,"  pursued  Mrs.  Silk,  with  a  bash- 
fiilness  which  set  every  nerve  in  the  steward's  body 
quivering,  "  and  we  both  agreed  that  banns  was  the 
proper  way." 

"  You  was  talking  about  it,"  corrected  Mr. 
Wilks,  in  a  hoarse  voice.  "  You  brought  up  the 
subject  and  I  agreed  with  you — not  that  it  matters 
to  me  'ow  people  get  married.  That's  their  affair. 
Banns  or  license,  it's  all  one  to  me." 

"  I  won't  be  married  by  license,"  said  Mrs.  Silk, 
with  sudden  petulance;  "leastways,  I'd  rather  not 
be,"  she  added,  softening. 

Mr.  Wilks  took  his  handkerchief  from  his  pocket 
and  blew  his  nose  violently.  Mrs.  Silk's  methods 
of  attack  left  him  little  opportunity  for  the  plain 
speaking  which  was  necessary  to  dispel  illusions.  He 
turned  a  watery,  appealing  eye  on  to  Mr.  Nugent, 
and  saw  to  his  surprise  that  that  gentleman  was 
winking  at  him  with  great  significance  and  persist- 
ence. It  would  have  needed  a  heart  of  stone  to  have 
been  unaffected  bv  such  misery,  and  to-night  Mr, 

.^31 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Nugent,  thankful  for  his  own  escape,  was  in  a  singu- 
larly merciful  mood. 

"All  this  sounds  as  though  you  are  going  to  be 
married,"  he  said,  turning  to  Mrs.  Silk  with  a  polite 
smile. 

The  widow  simpered  and  looked  down,  thereby 
affording  Mr.  Nugent  an  opportunity  of  another 
signal  to  the  perturbed  steward,  who  sat  with  such  a 
look  of  anxiety  on  his  face  lest  he  should  miss  his 
cue  that  the  young  man's  composure  was  tried  to 
the  utmost. 

"  It's  been  a  understood  thing  for  a  long  time," 
she  said,  slowly,  "  but  I  couldn't  leave  my  son 
while  'e  was  single  and  nobody  to  look  after  'im. 
A  good  mother  makes  a  good  wife,  so  they  say. 
A  woman  can't  always  'ave  'er  own  way  in  every- 
thing, and  if  it's  not  to  be  by  banns,  then  by  license 
it  must  be,  I  suppose." 

"  Well,  he'll  be  a  fortunate  man,  whoever  he  is," 
said  Mr.  Nugent,  with  another  warning  glance  at 
Mr.  Wilks ;  "  and  I  only  hope  that  he'll  make  a 
better  husband  than  you  do,  Sam,"  he  added,  in  a 
low  but  severe  voice. 

Mrs.  Silk  gave  a  violent  start.  "  Better  husband 
than  'e  does?''  she  cried,  sharply.  "Mr.  Wilks 
ain't  married." 

Mr.  Nugent's  baseless  charge  took  the  steward 
all  aback.     He   stiffened  in  his  chair,  a  picture  of 

332 


At  Sunwich  Port 

tonsternation,  and  guilt  appeared  stamped  on  every 
feature ;  but  he  had  the  presence  of  mind  to  look 
to  Mr.  Nugent's  eye  for  guidance  and  sufficient 
strength  of  character  to  accept  this  last  bid  for  liberty. 

"  That's  my  business,  sir,"  he  quavered,  in  of- 
fended tones. 

"  But  you  ain't  married?  "  screamed  Mrs.  Silk. 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Nugent,  pacifically.  "  Per- 
haps I  ought  not  to  have  mentioned  it ;  it's  a  sore 
subject  with  Sam,  And  I  daresay  there  were  faults 
on  both  sides.     Weren't  there,  Sam  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  in  a  voice  which  he 
strove  hard  to  make  distinct ;  "  especially  'ers." 

"You — you  never  told  me  you  were  married," 
said  Mrs.  Silk,  breathlessly. 

"  1  never  said  I  wasn't,"  retorted  the  culprit,  de- 
fiantly. "  If  people  liked  to  think  I  was  a  single 
man,  I  don't  care  ;  it's  got  nothing  to  do  with  them. 
Besides,  she  lives  at  Stepney,  and  I  don't  'ear  from 
'er  once  in  six  months;  she  don't  interfere  with 
me  and  I  don't  interfere  with  her." 

Mrs.  Silk  got  up  from  her  chair  and  stood  con- 
fronting him  with  her  hand  grasping  the  back  of  it. 
Her  cold  eyes  gleamed  and  her  face  worked  with 
spite  as  she  tried  in  vain  to  catch  his  eye.  Of  Mr. 
Nugent  and  his  ingenuous  surprise  at  her  behaviour 
she  took  no  notice  at  all. 

"  You're  a  deceiver,"  she  gasped ;  "  you've  been 
333 


At  Sunwich  Port 

be'aving  like  a  single  man  and  everybody   thought 
you  was  a  single  man." 

"  I  hope  you  haven't  been  paying  attentions  to 


"  '  You're  a  deceiver,'  she  gasped." 


anybody,  Sam  ?  "  said   Mr.   Nugent,  in  a  shocked 
voice. 

"  A-ah !"  said    Mrs.  Silk,  shivering  with   anger. 
**  Ask  'itn  ;  the  deceiving  villain.    Ask  anybody,  and 

334 


At  Sunwich  Port 

see  what  they'll  tell  you.  Oh,  you  wicked  man,  1 
wonder  you  can  look  me  in  the  face  !  " 

Truth  to  tell,  Mr.  Wilks  was  looking  in  any  di- 
rection but  hers.  His  eyes  met  Nugent's,  but 
there  was  a  look  of  such  stern  disdain  on  that  gen- 
tleman's face  that  he  was  fain  to  look  away  again. 

"  Was  it  a  friend  of  yours?  "  inquired  the  artless 
Mr.  Nugent. 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Mrs.  Silk,  recovering  her- 
self. "  Never  mind  who  it  was.  You  wait  till  I 
go  and  tell  Teddy,"  she  continued,  turning  to  the 
trembling  Mr.  Wilks.  "  If  'e's  got  the  'art  of  a 
man  in  'im  you'll  see." 

With  this  dire  threat,  and  turning  occasionally  to 
bestow  another  fierce  glance  upon  the  steward,  she 
walked  to  the  door  and,  opening  it  to  its  full  extent, 
closed  it  behind  her  with  a  crash  and  darted  across 
the  alley  to  her  own  house.  The  two  men  gazed 
at  each  other  without  speaking,  and  then  Mr.  Wilks, 
stepping  over  to  the  door,  turned  the  key  in  the 
lock. 

"  You're  not  afraid  of  Teddy  ?  "  said  the  staring 
Nugent. 

"Teddy!"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  snapping  his  huge 
fingers.  "I'm  not  afraid  o' fifty  Teddies ;  but  she 
might  come  back  with  'im.  If  it  'adn't  ha'  been  for 
you,  sir,  I  don't  know  wot  wouldn't  'ave  happened." 

"  Go  and  draw  some  beer  and  get  me  a  clean 
335 


At  Sunwich  Port 

pipe,"  said  Nugent,  dropping  into  a  chair.  "  We've 
both  been  mercifully  preserved,  Sam,  and  the  best 
thing  we  can  do  is  to  drink  to  our  noble  selves  and 
be  more  careful  for  the  future." 

Mr.  Wilks  obeyed,  and  again  thanking  him 
warmly  for  his  invaluable  services  sat  down  to  com- 
pile a  few  facts  about  his  newly  acquired  wife,  war- 
ranted to  stand  the  severest  cross-examination  which 
might  be  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  a  task  in- 
terspersed with  malicious  reminiscences  of  Mrs. 
Silk's  attacks  on  his  liberty.  He  also  insisted  on 
giving  up'  his  bed  to  Nugent  for  the  night. 

"  I  suppose,"  he  said  later  on,  as  Mr.  Nugent, 
after  a  faint  objection  or  two,  took  his  candle — "  I 
suppose  this  yarn  about  my  being  married  will  get 
about  ? " 

"  I  suppose  so,"  said  Nugent,  yawning,  as  he 
paused  with  his  foot  on  the  stair.    "  What  about  it  ?  " 

"  Nothing,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  in  a  somewhat  dis- 
satisfied voice.     "  Nothing." 

"  What  about  it  ?  "  repeated  Mr.  Nugent,  sternly. 

"  Nothing,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Wilks,  with  an  insuffer- 
able simper.  "  Nothing,  only  it'll  make  things  a 
little  bit  slow  for  me,  that's  all." 

Mr.  Nugent  eyed  him  for  a  space  In  speechless 
amazement,  and  then,  with  a  few  strong  remarks  on 
ingratitude  and  senile  vanity,  mounted  the  winding 
little  stairs  and  went  to  bed. 

33^ 


CHAPTER  XXV 

THE  day  after  Mr.  Silk*s  sudden  and  unex- 
pected assertion  of  his  marital  rights  Mr. 
Kybird  stood  in  the  doorway  of  his  shop, 
basking  in  the  sun.  The  High  Street  was  in  a  state 
of  post-prandial  repose,  and  there  was  no  likelihood 
of  a  customer  to  interfere  with  his  confidential  chat 
with  Mr.  Nathan  Smirfi,  who  was  listening  with  an 
aspect  of  great  severity  to  his  explanations. 

"  It  ought  not  to  'ave  happened,"  he  said,  sharply, 

"It  was  Teddy  done  it,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  hum- 
bly. 

Mr.  Smith  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "It  wouldn't 
*ave  happened  if  I'd  been  there,"  he  observed,  arro- 
gantly. 

"I  don't  see  *ow "  began  Mr.  Kybird. 

"  No,  o'  course  you  don't,"  said  his  friend. 
"  Still,  it's  no  use  making  a  fuss  now.  The  thing 
is  done.  One  thing  is,  I  don't  suppose  it'll  make 
any  diff " 

"  Difference,"  suggested  Mr.  Kybird,  after  wait- 
ing for  him  to  finish.  f 

"  Difference,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  with  an  obvious 
337 


At  Sunwich  Port 

effort.  His  face  had  lost  its  scornful  expression 
and  given  way  to  one  almost  sheepish  in  its  mild- 
ness.    Mr.  Kybird,  staring  at  him  in  some  surprise. 


•'  *  It  was  Teddy  done  it,"  said  Mr.  Kybird,  humbly." 

even   thought   that    he  detected  a  faint   shade   of 
pink. 

"  We  ain't  all  as  clever  as  wot  you  are,  Nat,"  he 
33^ 


At  Sunwich  Port 

said,  somewhat   taken   aback   at  this  phenomenon, 
"  It  wouldn't  do." 

Mr.  Smith  made  a  strange  noise  in  his  throat  and 
turned  on  him  sharply.  Mr.  Kybird,  still  staring 
in  surprise  at  his  unwonted  behaviour,  drew  back  a 
little,  and  then  his  Hps  parted  and  his  eyes  grew 
round  as  he  saw  the  cause  of  his  friend's  concern. 
An  elderly  gentleman  with  a  neatly  trimmed  white 
beard  and  a  yellow  rose  in  his  button-hole  was  just 
passing  on  the  other  side  of  the  road.  His  tread 
was  elastic,  his  figure  as  upright  as  a  boy's,  and  he 
swung  a  light  cane  in  his  hand  as  he  walked.  As 
Mr.  Kybird  gazed  he  bestowed  a  brisk  nod  upon 
the  bewildered  Mr.  Smith,  and  crossed  the  road 
with  the  evident  intention  of  speaking  to  him. 

"  How  do,  Smith  ?  "  he  said,  in  a  kindly  voice. 

The  boarding-master  leaned  against  the  shop- 
window  and  regarded  him  dumbly.  There  was  a 
twinkle  in  the  shipbroker's  eyes  which  irritated  him 
almost  beyond  endurance,  and  in  the  doorway  Mr. 
Kybird — his  face  mottled  with  the  intensity  of  his 
emotions — stood  an  unwelcome  and  frantic  witness 
of  his  shame. 

"  You're  not  well.  Smith  ? "  said  Mr.  Swann, 
shaking  his  head  at  him  gently.  "  You  look  like 
a  man  who  has  been  doing  too  much  brain-work 
lately.  You've  been  getting  the  better  of  some- 
body, I  know." 

339 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Mr.  Smith  gasped  and,  eyeing  him  wickedly, 
strove  hard  to  recover  his  self-possession. 

"  I'm  all  right,  sir,"  he  said,  in  a  thin  voice.  "  Vm 
glad  to  see  you're  looking  a  trifle  better,  sir." 

"  Oh,  I'm  quite  right,  now,"  said  the  other,  with 
a  genial  smile  at  the  fermenting  Mr.  Kybird.  "  I'm 
as  well  as  ever  I  was.  Illness  is  a  serious  thing, 
Smith,  but  it  is  not  without  its  little  amusements." 

Mr.  Smith,  scratching  his  smooth-shaven  chin  and 
staring  blankly  in  front  of  him,  said  that  he  was  glad 
to  hear  it. 

"  I've  had  a  long  bout  of  it,"  continued  the  ship- 
broker,  "  longer  than  I  intended  at  first.  By  the 
way,  Smith,  you've  never  spoken  to  anybody  of  that 
business,  of  course  ?  " 

"  Of  course  not,  sir,"  said  the  boarding-master, 
grinding  his  teeth. 

"  One  has  fancies  when  one  is  ill,"  said  Mr.  Swann, 
in  low  tones,  as  his  eye  dwelt  with  pleasure  on  the 
strained  features  of  Mr.  Kybird.  "  I  burnt  the  doc- 
ument five  minutes  after  you  had  gone." 

"  Did  you,  reely  ? "  said  Mr.  Smith,  mechanically, 

"  I'm  glad  it  was  only  you  and  the  doctor  that 
saw  my  foolishness,"  continued  the  other,  still  in  a 
low  voice.  "  Other  people  might  have  talked,  but 
I  knew  that  you  were  a  reliable  man.  Smith.  And 
you  won't  talk  about  it  in  the  future,  I'm  quite  cer- 
tain of  that.     Good  afternoon." 

340 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Mr.  Smith  managed  to  say,  "  Good  afternoon," 
and  stood  watching  the  receding  figure  as  though 
it  belonged  to  a  species  hitherto  unknown  to  him. 
Then  he  turned,  in  obedience  to  a  passionate  tug 
at  his  coat  sleeve  from  Mr.  Kybird. 

"  Wot  'ave  you  got  to  say  for  yourself? "  de- 
manded that  injured  person,  in  tones  of  suppressed 
passion.  "  Wot  do  you  mean  by  it?  You've  made 
a  pretty  mess  of  it  with  your  cleverness." 

"  Wonderful  old  gentleman,  ain't  he  ?  "  said  the 
discomfited  Mr.  Smith.  "  Fancy  'im  getting  the 
better  o'  me.  Fancy  me  being  'ad.  I  took  it  all  in 
as  innercent  as  you  please." 

"  Ah,  you're  a  clever  fellow,  you  are,"  said  Mr. 
Kybird,  bitterly.  "  'Ere's  Amelia  lost  young  Nu- 
gent and  'is  five  'undred  all  through  you.  It's  a 
got-up  thing  between  old  Swann  and  the  Nugent 
lot,  that's  wot  it  is." 

"  Looks  like  it,"  admitted  Mr.  Smith ;  "  but  fancy 
'is  picking  me  out  for  'is  games.  That's  wot  gets 
over  me." 

"  Wot  about  all  that  money  I  paid  for  the  li- 
cense?" demanded  Mr.  Kybird,  in  a  threatening 
manner.     "  Wot  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  ?  " 

"  You  shall  *ave  it,"  said  the  boarding-master, 
with  sudden  blandness,  "  and  'Melia  shall  'ave  'er 
five  'undred." 

"  'Ow?  "  inquired  the  other,  staring. 
341 


At  Sunwich  Port 

"  It's  as  easy  as  easy,"  said  Mr.  Smith,  who  had 
been  greatly  galled  by  his  friend's  manner.  "  I'll 
leave  it  in  my  will.  That's  the  cheapest  way  o' 
giving  money  I  know  of.  And  while  I'm  about  it 
I'll  leave  you  a  decent  pair  o'  trousers  and  a  shirt 
with  your  own  name  on  it." 

While  an  ancient  friendship  was  thus  being  dis- 
solved, Mr.  Adolphus  Swann  was  on  the  way  to  his 
office.  He  could  never  remember  such  a  pleasant 
air  from  the  water  and  such  a  vivid  enjoyment  in 
the  sight  of  the  workaday  world.  He  gazed  with 
delight  at  the  crowd  of  miscellaneous  shipping  in 
the  harbour  and  the  bustling  figures  on  the  quay, 
only  pausing  occasionally  to  answer  anxious  inquir- 
ies concerning  his  health  from  seafaring  men  in  tarry 
trousers,  who  had  waylaid  him  with  great  pains  from 
a  distance. 

He  reached  his  office  at  last,  and,  having  acknowl- 
edged the  respectful  greetings  of  Mr.  Silk,  passed 
into  the  private  room,  and  celebrated  his  return  to 
work  by  at  once  arranging  with  his  partner  for  a  sub- 
stantial rise  in  the  wages  of  that  useful  individual. 

"  My  conscience  is  troubling  me,"  he  declared,  as 
he  hung  up  his  hat  and  gazed  round  the  room  with 
much  reHsh. 

"  Silk  is  happy  enough,"  said  Hardy.  "It  is  the 
best  thing  that  could  have  happened  to  him." 

"  I  should  like  to  raise  everybody's  wages,"  said 
342 


At   Sunwich   Port 


the  benevolent  Mr.  Swann,  as  he  seated  himself  at 
his  desk.     "  Everything  is  like  a  holiday  to  me  after 
being  cooped  up  in  that  bedroom ;  but  the  rest  has 
done  me  a  lot  of  good,  so 
Blaikie    says.       And    now 
what  is  going  to  happen  to 


"  Paosing  occaaioaally  to  answer  anxioiu  inquine^^ 
343 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Hardy  shook  his  head. 

"  Strike  while  the  iron  is  hot,"  said  the  ship- 
broke.  "Go  and  see  Captain  Nugent  before  he 
has  got  used  to  the  situation.  And  you  can  give 
him  to  understand,  if  you  like  (only  be  careful  how 
you  do  it),  that  I  have  got  something  in  view  which 
may  suit  his  son.  If  you  fail  in  this  affair  after  all 
I've  done  for  you,  I'll  enter  the  lists  myself." 

The  advice  was  good,  but  unnecessary,  Mr.  Hardy 
having  already  fixed  on  that  evening  as  a  suitable 
opportunity  to  disclose  to  the  captain  the  nature  of 
the  efforts  he  had  been  making  on  his  behalf.  The 
success  which  had  attended  them  had  put  him  into 
a  highly  optimistic  mood,  and  he  set  off  for  Equator 
Lodge  with  the  confident  feeling  that  he  had,  to  say 
the  least  of  it,  improved  his  footing  there. 

Captain  Nugent,  called  away  from  his  labours  in 
the  garden,  greeted  his  visitor  in  his  customary  short 
manner  as  he  entered  the  room.  "If  you've  come 
to  tell  me  about  this  marriage,  I've  heard  of  it,"  he 
said,  bluntly.     "  Murchison  told  me  this  afternoon." 

"  He  didn't  tell  you  how  it  was  brought  about, 
I  suppose  ?  "  said  Hardy. 

The  captain  shook  his  head.  "  I  didn't  ask  him," 
he  said,  with  affected  indifference,  and  sat  gazing 
out  at  the  window  as  Hardy  began  his  narration. 
Two  or  three  times  he  thought  he  saw  signs  of  ap- 
preciation in  his  listener's  face,  but  the  mouth  under 

344 


At  Sunwich  Port 

the  heavy  moustache  was  firm  and  the  eyes  steady. 
Only  when  he  related  Swann's  interview  with  Na- 
than Smith  and  Kybird  did  the  captain's  features 
relax.  He  gave  a  chuckling  cough  and,  feeling  for 
his  handkerchief,  blew  his  nose  violently.  Then, 
with  a  strange  gleam  in  his  eye,  he  turned  to  the 
young  man  opposite. 

"  Very  smart,"  he  said,  shortly. 

"  It  was  successful,"  said  the  other,  modestly. 

"  Very,"  said  the  captain,  as  he  rose  and  con- 
fronted him.  "  I  am  much  obliged,  of  course,  for 
the  trouble  you  have  taken  in  the  affairs  of  my 
family.  And  now  I  will  remind  you  of  our  agree- 
ment." 

"  Agreement  ?  "  repeated  the  other. 

The  captain  nodded.  "  Your  visits  to  me  were 
to  cease  when  this  marriage  happened,  if  I  wished 
it,"  he  said,  slowly. 

"That  was  the  arrangement,"  said  the  dumb- 
founded Hardy,  "  but  I  had  hoped .     Besides, 

it  has  all  taken  place  much  sooner  than  I  had  an- 
ticipated." 

"  That  was  the  bargain,"  said  the  captain,  stiffly. 
"And  now  I'll  bid  you  good-day." 

"  I  am  sorry  that  my  presence  should  be  so  dis- 
tasteful to  you,"  said  the  mortified  Hardy. 

"Distasteful,  sir?"  said  the  captain,  sternly. 
"  You  have  forced  yourself  on  me  for  twice  a  week 

345 


At  Sunwich  Port 

for  some  time  past.  You  have  insisted  upon  talk- 
ing on  every  subject  under  the  sun,  whether  I  liked 
it  or  not.  You  have  taken  every  opportunity  of 
evading  my  wishes  that  you  should  not  see  my 
daughter,  and  you  wonder  that  I  object  to  you. 
For  absolute  brazenness  you  beat  anything  I  have 
ever  encountered." 

"  I  am  sorry,"  said  Hardy,  again. 

"  Good  evening,"  said  the  captain 

"  Good  evening." 

Crestfallen  and  angry  Hardy  moved  to  the  door, 
pausing  with  his  hand  on  it  as  the  captain  spoke 
again. 

"  One  word  more,"  said  the  older  man,  gazing  at 
him  oddly  as  he  stroked  his  grey  beard ;  "  if  ever 
you  try  to  come  bothering  me  with  your  talk  again 
I'll  forbid  you  the  house." 

"  Forbid  me  the  house  ?  "  repeated  the  astonished 
Hardy. 

"  That's  what  I  said,"  replied  the  other ;  "  that's 
plain  English,  isn't  it  ?  " 

Hardy  looked  at  him  in  bewilderment ;  then,  as 
the  captain's  meaning  dawned  upon  him,  he  stepped 
forward  impulsively  and,  seizing  his  hand,  began  to 
stammer  out  incoherent  thanks. 

"  You'd  better  clear  before  I  alter  my  mind,"  said 
Captain  Nugent,  roughly.  "I've  had  more  thai 
enough  of  you.     Try  the  garden,  if  you  like." 

346 


At  Sunwich  Port 

He  took  up  a  paper  from  the  table  and  resumed 
his  seat,  not  without  a  grim  smile  at  the  prompti- 
tude with  which  the  other  obeyed  his  instructions. 

Miss  Nugent,  reclining  in  a  deck-chair  at  the 
bottom  of  the  garden,  looked  up  as  she  heard 
Hardy's  footstep  on  the  gravel.  It  was  a  surprising 
thing  to  see  him  walking  down  the  garden ;  it  was 
still  more  surprising  to  observe  the  brightness  of 
his  eye  and  the  easy  confidence  of  his  bearing.  It 
was  evident  that  he  was  highly  pleased  with  himself, 
and  she  was  not  satisfied  until  she  had  ascertained 
the  reason.  Then  she  sat  silent,  reflecting  bitterly 
on  the  clumsy  frankness  of  the  male  sex  in  general 
and  fathers  in  particular.  A  recent  conversation 
with  the  captain,  in  which  she  had  put  in  a  casual 
word  or  two  in  Hardy's  favour,  was  suddenly  in- 
vested with  a  new  significance. 

"  I  shall  never  be  able  to  repay  your  father  for 
his  kindness,"  said  Hardy,  meaningly,  as  he  took  a 
chair  near  her. 

"  I  expect  he  was  pleased  at  this  marriage,"  said 
Miss  Nugent,  coldly.     "  How  did  it  happen  ?  " 

Mr.  Hardy  shifted  uneasily  in  his  chair.  "  There 
isn't  much  to  tell,"  he  said,  reluctantly;  "  and  you — 
you  might  not  approve  of  the  means  by  which  the 
end  was  gained." 

"  Still,  I  want  to  hear  about  it,"  said  Miss 
Nugent. 

347 


At  Sunwich  Port 

For  the  second  time  that  evening  Hardy  told  his 
story.  It  seemed  more  discreditable  each  time  he 
told  it,  and  he  scanned  the  girl's  face  anxiously  as 
he  proceeded,  but,  like  her  father,  she  sat  still  and 
made  no  comment  until  he  had  finished.  Then  she 
expressed  a  strong  feeling  of  gratitude  that  the  Nu- 
gent family  had  not  been  mixed  up  in  it. 

"  Why  ?  "  inquired  Hardy,  bluntly. 

"  I  don't  think  it  was  a  very  nice  thing  to  do," 
said  Miss  Nugent,  with  a  superior  air. 

"It  wouldn't  have  been  a  very  nice  thing  for  you 
if  your  brother  had  married  Miss  Kybird,"  said  the 
Indignant  Jem.  "  And  you  said,  if  you  remember, 
that  you  didn't  mind  what  I  did." 

"  I  don't,"  said  Miss  Nugent,  noticing  with  pleas- 
ure that  the  confident  air  of  a  few  minutes  ago  had 
quite  disappeared. 

"  You  think  I  have  been  behaving  badly  ? "  pur- 
sued Hardy. 

"  I  would  rather  not  say  what  I  think,"  replied 
Miss  Nugent,  loftily.  "  I  have  no  doubt  you 
meant  well,  and  I  should  be  sorry  to  hurt  your 
feelings." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Hardy,  and  sat  gloomily  gaz- 
ing about  him.  For  some  time  neither  of  them 
spoke. 

"  Where  is  Jack  now  ?  "  inquired  the  girl,  at  last. 

**  He  is  staying  with  me  for  a  few  days,"  said 
348 


At  Sunwich  Port 

Hardy.     "  I  sincerely  hope  that  the  association  will 
not  be  injurious  to  him." 

"  Are  you  trying  to  be  rude  to  me  ? "  inquired 
Miss  Nugent,  raising  her  clear  eyes  to  his. 

"  I  am  sorry,"  said  Hardy,  hastily.  "  You  are 
quite  right,  of  course.  It  was  not  a  nice  thing  to 
do,  but  I  would  do  a  thousand  times  worse  to  please 
you." 

Miss  Nugent  thanked  him  warmly;  he  seemed 
to  understand  her  so  well,  she  said. 

'"  I  mean,"  said  Hardy,  leaning  forward  and 
speaking  with  a  vehemence  which  made  the  girl  in- 
stinctively avert  her  head — "  I  mean  that  to  please 
you  would  be  the  greatest  happiness  I  could  know. 
I  love  you." 

Miss  Nugent  sat  silent,  and  a  strong  sense  of  the 
monstrous  unfairness  of  such  a  sudden  attack  pos- 
sessed her.  Such  a  declaration  she  felt  ought  to 
have  been  led  up  to  by  numerous  delicate  grada- 
tions of  speech,  each  a  little  more  daring  than  the 
last,  but  none  so  daring  that  they  could  not  have 
been  checked  at  any  time  by  the  exercise  of  a  little 
firmness. 

"  If  you  would  do  anything  to  please  me,"  she 
said  at  length  in  a  low  voice,  and  without  turning 
her  head, "  would  you  promise  never  to  try  and  see 
me  or  speak  to  me  again  if  I  asked  you  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Hardy,  promptly. 
349 


At   Sunwich   Port 

Miss  Nugent  sat  silent  again.     She  knew  that  a 
good  woman  should  be  sorry  for  a  man  in  such  ex- 


tremityj  and  should  endeavour  ro  spare  his  feelings  by 
softening  her  refusal  as  much  as  possible,  little  as 
he  might  deserve  such  consideration.     But  man  is 

350 


At  Sunwich  Port 

impatient  and  jumps  at  conclusions.  Before  she  was 
half-way  through  the  first  sentence  he  leaned  for- 
ward and  took  her  hand. 

"  Oh,  good-bye,"  she  said,  turning  to  him,  with 
a  pleasant  smile. 

"  I  am  not  going,"  said  Hardy,  quietly ;  "  I  am 
never  going,"  he  added,  as  he  took  her  other  hand. 

Captain  Nugent,  anxious  for  his  supper,  found 
them  there  still  debating  the  point  some  two  hours 
later.  Kate  Nugent,  relieved  at  the  appearance  of 
her  natural  protector,  clung  to  him  with  unusual 
warmth.  Then,  in  a  kindly,  hospitable  fashion,  she 
placed  her  other  arm  in  that  of  Hardy,  and  they 
walked  in  grave  silence  to  the  house. 


THE    END 


351 


UC  SOUTHBVt  REGKMAL  UBRARY  FACKJTY 


I 


A    000  161  303     3 


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